BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb guards Tierra Huntsman and Carley Plentovich combined to score 22 points to help the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 52-41 victory over the Longwood women's basketball team in Tuesday's Education Day game inside Paul Porter Arena.
 
Huntsman and Plentovich scored 16 of their combined 22 points in the opening half, as Gardner-Webb overcame a career-high 17 points from Micaela Ellis and a near double-double from Autumn Childress – who finished with seven points, 11 rebounds.
 
"We had an opportunity to get back-to-back wins today, but we weren't able to get it done," said Longwood head coach Bill Reinson. "Our focus in the early stages of the game was not where it needed to be. In the second half, we gave a much better showing.
 
After shooting a Longwood Division I record .580 from the field in Saturday's win over Presbyterian, the Lancers (4-20, 2-11 Big South) were limited to a .317 shooting clip against a Gardner-Webb (16-9, 6-7 Big South) squad that entered Tuesday's game ranked fourth in the Big South in field-goal percentage defense. Huntsman and Plentovich each scored eight in the opening half, helping Gardner-Webb take a 14-point advantage to the locker room.
 
After Gardner-Webb took their largest lead in the early part of the fourth quarter of 18 points, Longwood rallied with their defense, holding the Runnin' Bulldogs without a field goal for the final 8:37 of the game, while closing the margin to 11 points on three separate occasions.
 
"We need to be more consistent from half-to-half and game-to-game," Reinson said. "Our energy and aggressiveness was very apparent at Presbyterian, but it wasn't as good today."
 
Ellis led all scorers in the game with a career-high 17 points, surpassing the 16 points she scored a season ago at UNC Asheville. The Oak Park, MIch., native finished the game 6-of-9 from the floor and was 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, with four of those five triples coming in the opening quarter.
 
"Micaela played a terrific game," Reinson said. "She really shot the ball well."
 
Over her last five games, Ellis has averaged 11.8 points per game, finishing in double figures in three of those games. In addition to her 17 points, the three-year captain added a rebound and assist while playing all 40 minutes.
 
Childress scored all seven of her points in the second half, as she secured her 11th game of the season with double figure rebounds. The Midlothian, Va., product has secured 10-plus boards in each of Longwood's last three games and six of her last eight games.
 
"Campbell is going to be a battle on Saturday. We'll work hard to be ready," Reinson said.
 
After playing two straight on the road, the Lancers will play their final four games of the regular season in the Commonwealth of Virginia. That stretch opens when Longwood returns to Willett Hall Saturday, Feb. 17, as the squad welcomes Campbell. That game is set for a noon tip and will be streamed on the Big South Network.
 
#GoWood