CHARLESTON, S.C. - Gardner-Webb utilized a double-digit run in the fourth quarter to hold off host Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon in the Buccaneer Field House, 75-62.

The Bucs (5-4, 3-2 Big South) shot 43.5% percent from the floor and 41.2% from the three-point line in the loss, but the Runnin' Bulldogs (3-7, 3-2 Big South) took advantage of 27 CSU turnovers on their way to scoring 28 points in picking up the conference win.

Janaia Fargo scored a career-high 16 points to pace the Buccaneers in the contest as the freshman guard finished 4-of-6 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Carmella Walker added 11 points and four rebounds in the loss.

Lauren Bevins sparked Gardner-Webb's second-half comeback with 20 points off the bench, including hitting 4-of-11 from the three-point line. Jhessyka Williams added 10 points and four of GWU's 18 steals in the game.
 
First Quarter
Makenna Winans opened the scoring with a jumper in the paint to put the Bucs ahead early in the contest. Carmella Walker followed with a three-pointer as the Bucs jumped out to a 9-4 lead less than four minutes into the contest. Emma Capps cut the Bucs' lead down to 15-12 with a late put-back layup with 1:22 remaining. Kelsie Ruff paced CSU late in the quarter with a short jumper, and then a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cap an 8-0 run and give the Bucs the 23-12 lead at the quarter break.
 

1Q | CSU 23, GWU 12

Kelsie Ruff with the #SCTop10 three-pointer at the buzzer as the Bucs continue to NOT miss inside the Buc Dome pic.twitter.com/IaJx7BlkeR

— CSU Women's Basketball (@CSUBucsWBB) January 9, 2021

Second Quarter
Gabrielle Caponegro put the Runnin' Bulldogs back within single digits with the opening basket in the second quarter as GWU scored the first four points of the contest. Tori Gittens and Jamya Rogers responded with back-to-back baskets to stretch the lead back to 27-17 with 8:06 to play in the quarter. The Bucs' lead hit 12 points on two separate occasions in the half with Winans putting the Bucs ahead 35-23 with a pair of free throws with 4:18 remaining in the half. The Runnin' Bulldogs went on a 12-0 run to even the score at 35-35 following a pair of Laura Kozo free throws. Asia Smith hit one of two from the line late to give the Bucs the 38-36 lead heading into the half.

Third Quarter
Alexis Hueston connected on back-to-back jumpers in the paint to swing the lead to the Runnin' Bulldogs at the 8:46 mark in the quarter. The Bucs responded with back-to-back three's from Janaia Fargo and Walker to retake the four-point lead as both teams battled through a two-possession game for a majority of the quarter. Bevis broke a 54-54 tie late in the quarter with a pair of free throws and Capps hit a layup with three seconds remaining to give GWU the 57-54 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter
Fargo hit the second of two free throw attempts to narrow the Gardner-Webb gap down to 57-55 with 9:04 left in the quarter. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded with a 12-0 run to take the 69-55 lead following a Smith free throw. Sha'Mya Leigh stemmed the tide with four consecutive points to narrow the GWU lead down to 69-59 midway through the fourth quarter. The Runnin' Bulldogs went up 15 late on their way to securing the conference win.

CSU Key Players

• Janaia Fargo – 16 points, 3-of-5 FG, 2-of-3 3PT, 6-of-7 FT, two assists, two steals
• Carmella Walker – 11 points, 4-of-10 FG, 2-of-6 3PT, four rebounds
• Tori Gittens – Seven points, 2-of-2 FG, two rebounds, one assist
• Sharita Godfrey – Seven points, 3-of-10 FG, five rebounds, two blocked shots
• Makenna Winans – Five points, five rebounds, three blocked shots

Inside the Statistics

• Charleston Southern shot 43.5% (20-of-46) from the floor, 41.2% (7-of-17) from the three-point line, and 62.5% (15-of-24) from the free throw line in the loss.
• Gardner-Webb shot 33.8% (27-of-80) from the floor, 19.2% (5-of-26) from the three-point line, and 80.0% (16-of-20) from the free throw line in the win.
• The Bucs shot 75.0% (9-of-12) from the floor and 3-of-3 from the three-point line in the opening first quarter on their way to building a double-digit lead after 10 minutes.
• The Runnin' Bulldogs held the 48-37 rebounding advantage with 24 offensive rebounds translating to 24 points.
• GWU forced 27 CSU turnovers and held the 28-17 edge in points off turnovers.
• The Runnin' Bulldogs held the 39-19 edge in points off the bench.

News & Notes

• Janaia Fargo's 16-points marked her second collegiate double-digit scoring contest and the first time she led the Bucs in points in a single game.
• Carmella Walker reached double-digits for the team-leading sixth time this season and 21st time in her career.
• As a team, the Bucs shot over 40.0% for the fifth time this season and second game in a row.
• The Bucs have also hit at least 40.0% of their three-pointers in three consecutive games.
• CSU's 27 turnovers were a season-high.
• The Bucs' defense held GWU to under a 20.0% three-point percentage, marking the third time this season CSU has held their opponents under the mark on the season.

Up Next
Charleston Southern is back home against the Runnin' Bulldogs tomorrow afternoon with tipoff set inside the Buccaneer Field House for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.