#3 Furman Gets Past #6 Gardner-Webb, 19-5, to Reach Semifinals
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Paige Harman had a game high seven points to lead the third-seeded Furman women’s lacrosse team past No. 6 seed Gardner-Webb, 19-5, on Tuesday evening in the first round of the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship at Paladin Stadium.
With the win, Furman improves to 14-3 on the season and advances to the semifinals of the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship. The Paladins will face second-seeded High Point on Friday at 7 p.m. from Mercer’s Five Star Stadium in Macon, Ga. Gardner-Webb’s season ends at 3-14.
Harman led Furman with a game high seven points on four goals and three assists while Anna Roser contributed six points on four goals and two assists. Sofija Buzelis compiled five goals and six draws and Skylar Hilmer won five draws. Defensively, Andrea Fisher, who became the Paladins’ career caused turnover leader on Tuesday, registered a career high five caused turnovers and tied her career best of five ground balls.
Goalie Madigan Brewer improved to 11-0 on the season after recording seven saves, two ground balls, and one caused turnover.
Katie Westbrook paced the Runnin’ Bulldogs with two points and Emma Duchscherer provided one goal and one assist. Goalie Emma Anderson finished with six saves, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers.
Furman held Gardner-Webb without a goal over the game’s first 20 minutes and started on a 7-0 run that lasted early into the second quarter. Buzelis and Harman both scored twice during the run with Harman giving the Paladins a seven-goal lead at the 11:35 mark of the second quarter. Roser put Furman ahead 10-3 at halftime and the Paladins held the Runnin’ Bulldogs without a goal for the second time in the third quarter. Roser scored twice over the final seven minutes of the quarter with her last increasing Furman’s lead to 14-3. The Paladins outscored Gardner-Webb 5-2 in the fourth to secure the 19-5 victory.
Furman outshot the Runnin’ Bulldogs 34-18 in the contest while holding a 21-19 advantage in ground balls and 15-12 in draws. The Paladins forced Gardner-Webb into 19 turnovers.