Celebrate Gardner-Webb’s Big South Women’s Basketball Championship with Top-Ranked Apparel

Pop-up Championship Store Open Through March 1, 2023

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University students, alumni and friends have an opportunity to own a part of history that celebrates the Runnin’ Bulldogs Big South Conference regular season championship for women’s basketball. For a limited time, this top-ranked championship apparel is available online at the official GW Big South Women’s Basketball Championship pop-up store. Only open through March 1, 2023, the store offers T-shirts, hoodies, workout merchandise and more.

Gardner-Webb women’s basketball has made history this season on several fronts. On Saturday, Feb. 18, the ‘Dawgs beat UNC Asheville 82-58 to move to 16-0 in the Big South. With that win, Gardner-Webb (24-4, 16-0 Big South) became the first program in conference history—women or men—to start a Big South basketball season with a 16-0 mark. On Wednesday, Feb. 22, they took the record to 17-0 in league play with an 89-72 win over Longwood. 

The Runnin’ Bulldogs will return home on Saturday, Feb. 25, to host USC Upstate in the regular season finale with a record of 25-4. At this game there will be a Big South trophy presentation and the ceremonial cutting down of the nets.

Already the top-seed in the upcoming Hercules Tires Big South Conference Championship—Gardner-Webb has its first Big South regular season title in hand since the 2009-2010 season.

Coach Alex Simmons‘ team has won each of its last 12 games by double digits and clinched the Big South’s outright regular season title earlier this month.

This season the ‘Dawgs also have three different 1,000-point career scorers on the court —Lauren Bevis, Alasia Smith and Jhessyka Williams. Never before at Gardner-Webb have three players on same team reached that scoring mark. They have proven that a team-first mentality breeds success for everyone. 

Jhessyka Williams continues her push as the Big South’s Player of the Year favorite—and for All-America status. The Augusta, Ga., native is averaging 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season and is within striking distance of 2,000 career points.

Sharpshooter Lauren Bevis is averaging a strong 15.2 points per game this season. Alasia Smith is close behind at 14.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game—with point guard Ki’Ari Cain having a career-best season with 10.2 points and a league-best 4.8 assists per game.

One of the nation’s top teams at disrupting opponents and forcing turnovers, Gardner-Webb has been effective in transition and is averaging a healthy 75.6 points per game.

To discover more about Gardner-Webb Women’s Basketball or to get your Big South Conference Tournaments tickets, check out gwusports.com.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.