Boiling Springs, N.C. – Winthrop concluded the regular-season with a huge second half at Gardner-Webb, rolling to a final score of 72-54 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Winthrop (14-15, 8-8 Big South) | Gardner-Webb (6-23, 5-11) Big South)
Mar. 2, 2024 | Paul Porter Arena
Winthrop 72, Gardner-Webb 54
 
How it Happened
 
First Quarter | Winthrop jumped out to a 7-2 lead three minutes in. Blessing Okoh scored five of the early seven Eagle points. A quick 6-0 run by GW put them up by a point two minutes later only to have the Eagles go on a big 15-4 run to lead by 10 at 22-12 at the end of the quarter. Ronaltha Marc and Jada Ryce combined for nine of Winthrop's 15 points during the run. Ryce's triple put Winthrop up 10 with 19 seconds left in the quarter.
 
Second Quarter | The Eagles scored the first two baskets to start the second quarter, going up 26-12 two minutes in, extending the Winthrop run to 19-4 dating back to late in the first quarter. GW finally scored on a layup with exactly 8 minutes left in the frame but Winthrop maintained a lead ranging from 10-15 for the rest of the half, ultimately taking a 37-27 lead going into the break.
 
Third Quarter | GW scored the first five points of the second half in a two-minute span but Winthrop answered with another big run, scoring the next 17 points in a six-minute span to take their lead up to 20 at 52-32 at the 1:49 mark while holding GW scoreless for nearly seven minutes. GW then ended their scoreless drought with a triple at the 1:32 mark only for Ryce to do the same with 20 seconds left. GW hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 55-38 Eagles at the end of the quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter | GW hit one from deep to begin the last quarter but Winthrop scored eight straight points to take the lead up to 22 at 63-41 at the 5:12 mark. This was the largest lead of the game for the Eagles. GW's score from three-point range was the only points they scored in the first five minutes of the frame. GW then scored 13 of the last 21 points to wrap up the scoring and the regular-season.
 
Statistical Standouts (Team)

• Winthrop moves to 612-906 all-time as a program.
• Winthrop moves to 211-375 in Big South regular-season games.
• The Eagles sweep GW for the first time since 2013.
• Leonor Paisana is now eighth in school history in career triples made (94).
• Winthrop has recorded more than 30 rebounds in the last six games.
• Winthrop outscored GW 10-9 in points off turnovers and 26-22 in points in the paint.
• The two teams were tied in bench points, 16-16.
• Winthrop held GW to 20% from three-point range.
• Winthrop outrebounded GW, 35-24.
• Winthrop shot 51% from the field and 45% from three-point range.
• Winthrop was 72% from the free throw line.
• Three Eagles played more than 30 minutes and scored in double figures.
• This was Gasaway's ninth double double this season.
• This was also her 16^th double figure game in rebounds this season and her 12^th double figure game in points this season.
• This was Marc's 14^th double figure game in points this season.
• This was Ryce's 16^th double figure game in points this season.

Statistical Standouts (Individual)

• Jada Ryce (33 min, 6-8 FG, 18 pts)
• Marissa Gasaway (26 min, 14 rebounds, 13 pts)
• Ronaltha Marc (30 min, 4-6 FG, 11 pts)

Up Next
Winthrop along with the rest of the league awaits seedings for the 2024 Hercules Tires Big South Conference Championship beginning Wednesday, Mar. 6.
 
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