CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College Blue Hose women's basketball team (11-8, BSC: 2-2) fell to the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (2-14, BSC: 1-2) with a final score of 72-58 despite opening the game with a 12-point run.
 
COACH SHARP'S THOUGHTS
"We're a really good basketball team, but when shots aren't falling we have to dig in deep. That's where your toughness comes to the top."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – Presbyterian started off hot, scoring the first 12 points of the game, led by Bryanna Brady with six points. A pair of foul shots by Gardner-Webb ended the Blue Hose's streak. The Runnin' Bulldogs took the next eight points before the quarter ended with PC ahead 12-8.
 
Second Quarter – Gardner-Webb added two more points to their run at the end of the first quarter until Tilda Sjökvist made a layup to end their streak. After some back and forth Presbyterian held a six-point lead with 4:51 left in the first half and a score of 21-15. Gardner-Webb then outscored PC 11-5, despite a three-point bucket from Natalie Herrin, which tied the game at 26 points apiece. Both teams took four more points before the end of the second quarter. Going into halftime the score was tied at 30 points apiece.
 
Third Quarter – The Runnin' Bulldogs scored six of the first eight points of the second quarter before Mara Neira swished a corner three to make the score 36-35 in Gardner-Webb's favor. After some back and forth, the Runnin' Bulldogs led 40-38 with 4:38 to go in the third quarter. A three-pointer from Gardner-Webb before the media timeout put the score at 43-38. After some back and forth, Neira hit another three-point shot which brought Gardner-Webb's lead down to three points with a score of 47-44. The visitors took another two points to end the third quarter leading with a score of 49-44.
 
Fourth Quarter – Gardner-Webb opened the final quarter of play with a three-pointer which increased their lead to eight points. PC was able to pick up a pair of foul shots, but Gardner-Webb made another three-point shot with 7:58 left to play. The Blue Hose were able to score the next four points, but the Runnin' Bulldogs answered with six points to increase their lead to 11 points. Gardner-Webb increased their lead to 13 points with 3:07 left in the game before Neira hit a three-point shot to make the score 63-53. Throughout the last two minutes of play Gardner-Webb outscored Presbyterian by four points to end the game with a final score of 72-58.
 

 
NOTABLES

• PC went on a 12-point run to begin the game, and continued to hold Gardner-Webb to just eight points throughout the first quarter.
• The Blue Hose recorded 24 points in paint.
• Bryanna Brady led the team with 19 points while bringing down five rebounds, with two assists, and a block.

 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose hit the road for their next conference game on Wednesday, January 17 at 7:00 PM against the High Point Panthers in High Point, N.C.