GREENSBORO, N.C. - Behind a 30-2 run to open the game and a stingy defense which forced a number of Guilford Quakers turnovers, the Bridgewater Eagles women's basketball team took a big lead early and never looked back en route to a 76-48 victory over the Quakers.
Bridgewater scored the game's first 11 points before a pair of free throws from the hands of Jazlyn Gibbs put the Quakers on the scoreboard with 14 and change to play in the first half.
Following the Guilford free throws, Bridgewater turned to a press defense and went on a 19-0 run over the next five and a half minutes to take a 30-2 lead over the host Quakers. During the run, Jordan Burkholder (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby)was impressive posting nine points along the way, while Holly Morgan (Staunton, Va./ Buffalo Gap) chipped in seven points for the Eagles offense as well.
Guilford finally found the bottom of the net after an 11-plus minute scoreless stretch from the field to start the game and kick started a 9-0 Quakers run to chip the Bridgewater lead to 30-11 with 6:52 to play in the opening stanza.
Burkholder netted a pair of free throws with 6:48 to play in the half to spark a 10-0 outburst to push the Eagles lead to a then game-high 29 points at a 40-11 tally with 3:55 to play in the first frame. Sophomore Jessica Mullen (Purcellville, Va./Loudon Valley) was impressive, netting a trio of layups during the stretch.
The two teams traded scores over the final four minutes, with the Eagles leading by as many as 31, before taking a 44-17 lead into the locker room.
Burkholder and Mullen were both in double-figures in the first half, burying 13 and 11 points, respectively.
In the opening frame, the Eagles shot at a 46% clip, while holding the Quakers to a paltry 20% from the field.
Defensively, Bridgewater forced 17 Guilford miscues in the opening stanza which turned into 24 Eagles points.
In the paint, the Eagles outscored Guilford by a 22-4 margin, and outscored the Quakers by a 12-0 gap on the fast break.
Over the opening five minutes of the second stanza, the two teams stayed even until a Burkholder trey put the Eagles up by a game-high 33 at a 57-24 tally with 15:03 to play in the game.
Guilford responded with a 7-0 burst over the next minute to chip the Bridgewater lead to a 57-31 margin with 14 and change to play.
Over the remainder of the second half, both teams traded scores with the Bridgewater lead holding at near 30 for the majority of the rest of the game before the Eagles eventually prevailed by a 76-48 tally.
Burkholder led the way for the Eagles with a game-high 22 points. The Bridgewater, Va. native was a red-hot 7-of-10 from the field, including a 2-of-3 performance from beyond the arc.
Mullen chipped in 19 points for the Eagles offense and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the way, with sophomore teammate Katelynn Hottinger (Linville, Va./Broadway).
Defensively, Bridgewater forced 25 Quaker miscues and owned a 37-8 difference in points off of turnovers. The Eagles also owned an impressive 42-12 gap in the paint.
Bridgewater outshot Guilford by a 44%-to-27% tally from the field, while the Quakers owned the rebounding battle by a slim 41-to-39 tally.
Guilford was led offensively by a ten-point effort from Morgan King.
On the glass, Gabby Oglesby pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds in the loss.
Bridgewater is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, January 14 against the Wasps of Emory and Henry. Action from Emory & Henry is slated for a 3:00 p.m. start time.