By Tiffany Williams –
Gardner-Webb closed out its second straight win behind a decisive fourth-quarter push, handing UNCW a 65-56 loss Wednesday night at Paul Porter Arena. The Runnin’ Bulldogs overcame an 8-0 deficit in the opening 90 seconds, leaned on a disruptive defensive effort and sealed the game late after the Seahawks cut the margin to a single point early in the fourth.
UNCW opened fast, fueled by Paige Smith’s early shot-making, but Gardner-Webb steadied itself behind Amira Ofunniyin, who scored the team’s first two baskets and went on to produce a career-best 19 points with eight rebounds. Amina Gray’s three in the final minute of the first quarter tied the game at 13-13, and Makayla Legette’s drive early in the second gave GWU its first lead. Nyla Walker added three key baskets in the frame, and Jaelyn Acker converted three free throws with 1.7 seconds left to establish a 31-26 halftime advantage.
Gardner-Webb stretched the lead to 42-29 at the 4:21 mark of the third quarter after Acker buried a triple, but UNCW countered with an 8-0 run capped by a Smith three at the buzzer. Smith opened the fourth with another long-range make and later hit her fifth three-pointer to trim the deficit to 46-45 with 8:24 remaining. Smith finished with 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 7-of-11 from deep, the third-most threes in a game in program history.
The Seahawks, however, went scoreless for more than five minutes as Gardner-Webb regained control defensively. UNCW’s 31 turnovers led to 27 points for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, who also owned a 34-12 advantage in the paint. Hollifield’s free throws pulled the Seahawks within 50-47 with 3:08 left, but Gardner-Webb closed with 23 points in the final quarter, hitting six field goals, two threes and going 9-of-11 at the line. Gray added 16 points, six rebounds and four steals, and Walker contributed 13 points as the Bulldogs pulled away.
Kylah Silver posted 11 points and eight rebounds for UNCW, while Kate Hollifield added eight points, four rebounds and four assists. But Gardner-Webb’s pressure defense—19 steals in total—continually disrupted the Seahawks’ rhythm and shaped the outcome.
UNCW dropped to 1-3 and returns home Friday for the Seahawks Tomorrow Game against Presbyterian. Gardner-Webb improved to 2-4 and will travel to UNC Greensboro for a Friday night matchup.
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