BOILING SPRINGS, NC – Jah'Che Whitfield's made jumper with 1.5 seconds to play, lifted the Winthrop women's basketball team to a 64-62 victory over the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs Saturday afternoon.

Winthrop improves to 8-9 overall and 4-2 in the Big South with the road victory, it's second straight.  Gardner-Webb falls to 9-8 overall and 3-2 in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Winthrop struggled offensively in the early-going, not hitting its first shot from the field until more than four minutes into the contest.  Gardner-Webb held a 14-8 lead after the opening 10 minutes. 

Both sides picked up the scoring the second quarter, combining for 32 points.  After the Bulldogs pushed their lead to seven, the Eagles battled back to get within one with 3:29 left in the half.  Gardner-Webb then closed the half on a 9-4 run and took a 30-24 lead into the break.

The two sides played another even period in the third quarter, matching each other on both ends of the floor.  Gardner-Webb increased its lead to as much as nine but it was back at six, 41-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

Winthrop came out hot in the fourth quarter, scoring seven points in the opening 1:16, taking a one point lead, in what turned out to be a rollercoaster of a final 10 minutes. 

After Gardner-Webb ran off five straight to go back up by four, the Eagles went on a scoring tear.  Winthrop went on a 14-0 run, keeping Gardner-Webb off the board for more than three minutes to go up 56-46.  The Bulldogs then slowly chipped away at the Winthrop lead and got within one with 1:01 remaining. 

Free throws pushed Winthrop's lead back to four but Gardner-Webb scored four straight to tie the game at 62-62 with eight seconds on the clock.  After a Winthrop timeout, the Eagles inbounded the ball and found Whitfield on the wing.  She drove to the baseline and pulled up for a 12-foot jumper to put Winthrop up by two with 1.5 seconds to play.  Gardner-Webb took a timeout but couldn't come up with a bucket as the Eagles held on for the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Whitfield finished with 12 points, one of three Eagles in double figures.  She has scored in double figures in all six conference games this season.  Kem Nwabudu recorded her third double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.  Anika Riley also pulled down 11 boards while Destinee Jamison finished with 12 points.

The Eagles shot 42 percent from the field including 63 percent in the fourth quarter.  Gardner-Webb connected on 32 percent of its field-goal attempts.  Winthrop won the rebounding battle 48-41.

WHAT'S UP NEXT

Winthrop returns to the Coliseum Tuesday night to host conference-newcomer Hampton.  The Eagles and Pirates will tip at 7 p.m.