The Presbyterian College women’s basketball team ended a 13-game losing streak with a 50-46 win over Gardner-Webb on Wednesday night at Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The Blue Hose, now 3-16 overall and 1-5 in Big South Conference play, secured their first conference victory of the season.
In the final minute of the game, Ja’Cia Cunningham scored the last five points to lead Presbyterian past Gardner-Webb. The Blue Hose outscored their opponents 20-13 in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as five points earlier in the period.
Aminata Tal led all scorers with 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Cunningham contributed 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Krystal Haddock added 10 points for Presbyterian.
Defensively, Presbyterian held Gardner-Webb to just 28.3 percent shooting from the field and outrebounded them 43-24. Ore Ogunwolere collected eight rebounds to lead her team, followed by Amani Williams with seven and Tal with six.
Presbyterian also had an advantage in scoring inside, finishing with 38 points in the paint and achieving a season-high field goal percentage of 48.9 percent.
“We were able to come together late and execute when it mattered,” said head coach Tiffany Sardin. “Our defense was strong throughout the game, and I am proud of how we responded under pressure.”
The win snapped a six-game losing streak against Gardner-Webb and marked Presbyterian’s first victory over them since February 22, 2022. The Blue Hose now hold a 40-26 all-time record against Gardner-Webb in a series that began in 1986.
Several players reached individual milestones during the game. Aminata Tal scored in double figures for the eighth time this season and tied her career high with nine made field goals. Ore Ogunwolere set a career high with eight rebounds and matched her career best with six assists while recording four steals for the third time this season. Ja’Cia Cunningham scored more than ten points for the tenth time this season and has reached double figures in five of her last six games. Amani Williams tied her career high with seven rebounds for the third consecutive game.
Presbyterian will return home on Saturday, January 24 to face Charleston Southern at Alumni and Letterwinner’s Day at 2:00 p.m., with coverage available on ESPN+.
