JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 21, 2006) - Gardner-Webb overcame a 13-point second half deficit to slip past the Lady Bucs, 72-68, Saturday afternoon in Brooks Gym.  With the win, Gardner-Webb improves to 7-9 overall, 6-3 in the Atlantic Sun, while the Lady Bucs fall to 11-5, 7-2 in conference. 

Trailing 66-63, with just 2:34 remaining the in the second half, Gardner-Webb got a crucial basket from Brittany Harmon to bring the deficit to one with 2:14 to go.  GWU earned its first lead of half at the 1:30 mark, as Trisha Bennett drained a three to give the Runnin' Bulldogs the 68-66 advantage.

GWU continued its late run with a layup from Sequenta Blackman to make the score 70-66, with just over a minute remaining.  A pair of free throws by B.J. Banjo (Baltimore, Md.) would bring the Lady Bucs back within two, before Kelly Turman (Atlanta, Ga.) took a charge on a drive by Laura Povilonyte, to give the Lady Bucs the ball with 22 seconds on the clock.

Another offensive foul was called just 12 seconds later, this time on Banjo, giving possession back to Gardner-Webb with 10 ticks left.  The Lady Bucs were forced to foul, putting Blackman at the line with nine seconds on the clock.  Blackman made good on both attempts, icing the four-point victory for the Runnin' Bulldogs.  The loss was the ETSU's second home defeat in the last three games in Johnson City.

The Lady Bucs looked to be in control early on, rattling out to a 13-point lead with 17:49 remaining in the second frame.  Leading 35-30 at the break, ETSU came out on fire, engineering a 9-1 run to start the half.  Gardner-Webb failed to net its first field goal until the 16:28 mark.  But the Bulldog offense woke up after that, ending the game on a 41-24 run, and outscoring ETSU 42-33 in the second half.

A pair of Bulldogs scored in double figures, with Blackman tallying 15, and Povilonyte adding 14.  Povilonyte also posted a game-high nine rebounds.  Gardner-Webb shot 45.3 percent for the game, while holding the Lady Bucs to 37.7.  GWU also best ETSU on the boards, winning the battle 47-32. 

Banjo led the Lady Bucs in scoring once again, netting a game-high 20 in the loss.  Teammate Michele DeVault (Columbus, Ohio) also had a good afternoon offensively with 17 points, including a 9-for-10 showing at the free throw line.

Brooke Wilhoit (Sevierville, Tenn.) highlighted the Lady Bucs' defensive effort, tallying a career-high seven steals, along with a season-high eight rebounds, seven of which came on the defensive glass.  The junior also added six points and six assists on the offensive end.

The Lady Bucs will hit the road for more A-Sun action next week, facing Stetson on Jan. 26, before traveling to Mercer on Jan. 28.  The Stetson contest is set for 7 p.m., in DeLand, Fla.