CLINTON, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team (10-16, 7-5 Big South) made it four wins in a row for the first time since 2023 on Saturday afternoon with a 62-50 road win at Presbyterian (3-22, 1-11 Big South)

The Runnin' Bulldogs built one of its largest leads of the season in the fourth quarter on Saturday, at one point leading Presbyterian by as many as 24. After a strong start, GWU held on down the stretch to eventually secure the victory

The Blue Hose, on its home court, opened the scoring with the game's first bucket at 9:08 of the first. That would be the only lead of the day for Presbyterian. After junior guard Anaya Harris tied the game at 8:35, and junior guard Amina Gray knocked in her first three at 8:09 to put the Dawgs up 5-2, Gardner-Webb didn't trail again

On Harris, the Raleigh, N.C. native posted perhaps her best performance since returning to the floor in January. Harris scored five points just in the first quarter and ten in a huge third, but eventually finished with a game-high 22 on 7-of-11 shooting, 8-of-10 at the line, with four steals and two assists

Despite struggling at the three point line to the tune of just a 1-for-6 opening half, Gardner-Webb did go into halftime at a solid 10-of-22 overall. That allowed the Dawgs a 28-19 halftime lead, and one they'd expand with 25 points in the third. GWU finally found its groove from long range in the third, hitting 3-of-5 with redshirt senior Jaelyn Acker good from downtown twice, and freshman Sara Menendez finding the range with a minute to play. Mendenez' only three put the Dawgs up 49-31

Despite a 14-2 run by Presbyterian over the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, the Runnin' Bulldogs big lead held as Gardner-Webb won 62-50. The victory marks the Runnin' Bulldogs longest winning streak since late in the 2022-23 season, and continues the longest run of the Terri Williams era so far

In addition, the Runnin' Bulldogs surrendered 50 points or less for the fifth time this season and less than 60 for the 13th time in 26 games. In wins, GWU is allowing a wildly low 52.2 points per game this campaign

LEADERS
In addition to 22 points from Harris, GWU got 11 big points from Gray, nine from Menendez and six from Acker as the quartet combined for 48 of the Runnin' Bulldogs 60 points scored

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb takes its good run of form to Farmville, Va. on Wednesday night, February 18th to battle league-leading Longwood