Eagles Soar High Over Gardner-Webb For First Time in Four Years
In a thrilling match on Saturday afternoon, the Winthrop Eagles triumphed over defending conference champion Gardner-Webb, ending a four-year drought in their favor. The encounter at Winthrop Coliseum saw the Eagles clinch an impressive 61-50 victory, tilting the longstanding scales of this athletic rivalry.
Match Highlights
The Eagles initially found themselves trailing 16-5 in the first quarter, managing to scrape together a meager two field goals. However, a ray of hope appeared when Nyah Stallings landed a three-pointer around halfway into the quarter. Claudia Clement followed this up with a jumper on the buzzer, keeping Winthrop’s head above water at 18-10 in favor of Gardner-Webb.
Following a rocky start, Winthrop pulled itself together in the second quarter, tying the match at 25 each after a stellar 12-3 run led by Ronaltha Marc. Gardner-Webb clawed back, landing consecutive triples to regain the lead before the whistle blew for halftime, taking advantage of Winthrop’s scoreless run in the final minutes.
Turning the Tables
The second half of the game witnessed a remarkable comeback from Winthrop. Quick to score the first six points, they managed to tie the match within the first two minutes. Despite Gardner-Webb’s attempts to regain the lead, a robust 11-4 run nudged Winthrop into the lead for the first time in the game.
The final quarter echoed with cheers for Winthrop. Jada Ryce injected the eagles with further momentum landing five quick points and stretching the Eagle’s lead to seven with time to spare. Holding Gardner-Webb at bay without a field goal for the first five minutes of the quarter, the Eagles continued to soar. Despite Gardner-Webb’s repeated attempts to close the gap, Winthrop held their ground to record an outstanding 61-50 victory.
Statistical Standouts
The Winthrop Eagles performance was underscored by Ronaltha Marc’s and Jada Ryce’s presence in double figures. By Leonor Paisana’s efforts stood out as she sits one three-pointer away from moving into the Top 10 in school history in career triples (83).
Looking Forward
With this win, Winthrop Eagles get ready to host Charleston Southern on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 6:00 p.m. at their home ground. As for Gardner-Webb, this defeat would serve as a keen reminder and motivation to prep for their upcoming matches.
