BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team (3-16, 1-5 Big South) rallied in the fourth quarter to pick up a 50-46 road win on Wednesday night (Jan. 21) over Gardner-Webb in Paul Porter Arena.
Trailing by one in the final minute, Ja'Cia Cunningham poured in the final five points of the night, helping the Blue Hose outscore Gardner-Webb 20-13 in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. PC trailed by as many as five in the fourth but rallied down the stretch to pick up its first conference victory.
Aminata Tal powered the Blue Hose offensively, scoring a game-high 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor. Cunningham finished the game with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Krystal Haddock pitched in 10 points as well for Presbyterian.
The Blue Hose dominated the Runnin' Bulldogs all game defensively, holding Gardner-Webb to just 28.3 percent shooting on the night. Gardner-Webb made just 17 field goals in the game and only seven in the first half. The Blue Hose also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Runnin' Bulldogs 43-24. Ore Ogunwolere led PC on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds. Amani Williams added seven, while Tal hauled in six for the game.
Presbyterian won the battle in the paint, scoring 38 points for the game in the paint. As a team, PC shot a season-high 48.9 percent from the field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Blue Hose came out on fire to begin the game, opening the contest on a 7-0 run highlighted by a great start from Ja'Cia Cunningham to force a Gardner-Webb timeout. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored the next five before the Blue Hose got the lead back up to seven thanks to a banked three from Cunningham for her second three-pointer of the night. The rest of the quarter was a defensive duel, but a layup from Aminata Tal lifted the Blue Hose to a two-point 14-12 advantage through 10 minutes. In the first quarter, Presbyterian shot 50.0 percent from the field (6-of-12).
Second Quarter
PC's dominant defensive start to the night continued in the second quarter. The Blue Hose limited Gardner-Webb to just three made baskets in the period. Tal had the hot hand offensively for the Blue Hose, helping Presbyterian grow the lead to five with 6:29 left in the period. Gardner-Webb finally responded with its first basket of the quarter with 4:02 left, but the Blue Hose maintained their advantage. Krystal Haddock completed a three-point play in the closing minutes of the half to help put the Blue Hose ahead 22-19 at halftime. Through 20 minutes of play, PC held the Runnin' Bulldogs to just 24.1 percent shooting from the field.
Third Quarter
Gardner-Webb quickly took the lead back in the second half, making two threes to begin the third quarter. However, PC showed its resiliency by responding with a 6-0 run of its own capped off with another layup from Tal. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded again to retake the lead to go up 31-28 late in the quarter. Cunningham poured in a basket to cut the deficit to one before one more jumper from Gardner-Webb gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a 33-30 advantage going into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Tal scored the first points of the period, but Gardner-Webb responded with a three to grab a four-point cushion. The Runnin' Bulldogs led by as many as five in the middle of the quarter before the Blue Hose went on their run. Down 39-34, Presbyterian embarked on an 8-0 run to take a 42-39 lead. Late in the game, Gardner-Webb rallied to take the lead in the final minute, going up 46-45 after an and-one. Out of a timeout, Cunningham had the answer, making a jumper late in the shot clock. On the ensuing possession, the Blue Hose got a big defensive stop before Cunningham closed out the win with an and-one of her own. She scored the final five points of the night to help PC pick up its first conference win of the year 50-46 in Boiling Springs.
TEAM NOTES
- PC halted a 13-game losing streak. The Blue Hose ended a six-game losing skid to Gardner-Webb, picking up their first win in the series since Feb. 22, 2022.
- The Blue Hose improve to 40-26 all-time against the Runnin' Bulldogs in a series that dates back to 1986.
- Aminata Tal scored in double figures for the eighth time this season and the 15th overall in her career.
- Tal tied her career-high with nine made field goals, setting a new season-high.
- Ore Ogunwolere recorded a career-high eight rebounds for the Blue Hose. She also tied her career-high in assists with six.
- Ogunwolere posted four steals against the Runnin' Bulldogs. This is the third game this season that she has recorded at least four steals in a game.
- Ja'Cia Cunningham eclipsed the 10-point mark for the 10th time this season and the 29th time in her collegiate career. She has scored in double figures in five of her last six games.
- Amani Williams logged seven rebounds for the third straight game, tying her career-high (also seven).
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will return home on Saturday (Jan. 24) for Alumni and Letterwinner's Day against Charleston Southern at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
