BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.?Gardner-Webb went on a 15-3 run over the final five minutes to break open a 67-67 game and give the GWU an 82-70 victory over UNC Asheville on Monday.
Arescia Moore's basket with 5:09 left in the game tied the game for the fourth time at 67 apiece.
Laura Povilonyte who recorded her second-straight double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds gave Gardner-Webb the lead at the 4:22 mark 69-67. Pavilonyte would score again and complete a three-point play to put GWU up five at the 2:56 mark. After a missed shot, Margaret Roundtree who led all scorers with 22 points connected on a pair of free throw to put GWU up seven with 2:44 left. After another missed Asheville shot, Monique Hudson who finished with 16 points buried a three-pointer to put GWU up by 10 with just 2:06 left to play. Asheville turned the ball over on its next possession and Teri Higgenbottom made a pair of three throws as GWU went 14-for-15 from the foul line in the second half. After another Asheville turnover, Meranda Burnett went one-of two from the line and after a missed lay-up, Povilonyte ended the run with two free throws giving Gardner-Webb an 82-67 lead with just 57 seconds left to play.
Ashton Barton who finished the game with 13 points hit a three-pointer with 47 seconds left to provide the final score.
Jessica Monroe led UNC Asheville (6-5) with 17 points before fouling out with 57 second to play. Lindsey Montgomery had 14 points, 12 in the second half and six rebounds.
Gardner-Webb (3-9) made more free throws (19) than Asheville attempted (14) in the game and held a 43-36 rebounding advantage.
GWU began the game with a 14-4 run and had a 10-point lead three times in the first half. Asheville clawed back with a 6-0 run mid-way through the half to putt to within four points at 21-17. GWU answered with a 7-0 run to gain it largest lead of the half at 28-17 with 7:44 remaining.
Asheville again battled back closing the lead to three points on a triple by Barton with 4:25 to play. A jumper by Chioma Okoli gave Asheville its first lead of the game at 41-40 with 25 seconds in the half but Hudson scored with three ticks left to send GWU to the locker room with a 42-41 lead.
GWU built its lead back to nine points at 56-47 with 14:35 to play. Asheville used a 6-0 run to get back to within three-points at 56-53 with 12:05 remaining. The game stayed tight until a Barton three-pointer gave the Dogs their second lead 62-60 with 7:40 to play.
Asheville had its final lead 63-62 on a Monroe free throw at the 7:27 mark. Jenny Sprouse hit a wide open three-pointer to give GWu the lead back at 65-63 with 6:50 to play.
GWU shot 47.5 percent from the floor in the game while Asheville hit on 42.6 percent of its shots.
Asheville will return home to face Mercer on Friday night in a 7 p.m. game at the Justice Center. The game can be heard in the Asheville area on AM-1310 WISE and seen on the internet at bigsouthsports.com.
