Pair of Double-Doubles Paces Wildcats to 78-74 Win

Saturday, November 30

Davidson, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Davidson College

3-5

Gardner-Webb

4-2

Gardner-Webb

Davidson

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Pair of Double-Doubles Paces Wildcats to 78-74 Win

11/30/2013 5:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

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DAVIDSON, N.C. — Hannah Early and Dakota Dukes each registered a double-double, and Davidson held off a late-charging rally by Gardner-Webb to earn a 78-74 victory in the first of six straight home games Saturday afternoon at John M. Belk Arena in women's basketball.

Early and Dukes each tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds to become the first Wildcat duo to have a pair of double-doubles in a game since January 15, 2012 at Appalachian State. The 12 rebounds each were career highs for the pair, who combined to go 12-for-14 at the charity stripe.

Davidson (3-5), which won its sixth game in a row in the all-time series, put four players in double digits. Laura Murray netted a game-high 20 points and Lillian McCabe scored a career-best 16 to join Early and Dukes.

Gardner-Webb's (4-2) Catrina Green led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 19 points and Candace Brown added 10 off the bench.

Leading by 20 (65-45) with 11:13 left in the game after Shneeka Center swished home a pair of free throws, Davidson had to hold off a rally by GWU.

The Wildcats' advantage started to shrink in the final three minutes. After a Murray free throw to make it 73-59, the Runnin' Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to close within four on a Green lay-in with 36 seconds left.

Murray stopped the run with another free throw, but Green hit another layup on the other end to make it 74-71. Shannon Eriksson sealed the win with four straight free throws in the final 10 seconds to counter a three-ball by GWU's Brown with 2 ticks left.

Davidson raced out to a 19-6 lead behind eight points from McCabe to open the game. The defense held Gardner-Webb to 2-for-17 shooting to start and 34.2 percent for the first half.

A Murray shot from three-land made it 28-14 with 6:20 to go in the half and the Wildcats went into the break up 42-32.

The Wildcats hauled in a season-high 53 rebounds and dished out a season-best 19 assists on 25 field goals. They were also a season-best 23-for-30 from the charity stripe, including 17-of-20 in the second half.

Davidson continues its homestand with a big matchup Wednesday night, Dec. 4, hosting American Athletic Conference foe Rutgers, coached by Hall of Fame head coach Vivian Stringer. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Wildcats snapped a five-game skid with today's win … Early's and Dukes' double-doubles were their second each this year … Murray tied her career-high with seven assists and added five steals … the 20-point outing by Murray was her fifth of the season and the 22nd of her career.