2023–24 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs women's basketball team
{{Short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| sport = women's basketball
| year = 2023–24
| team = Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
| logo = Gardner-Webb Athletic Wordmark - full'22.jpg
| logo_size = 200
| conference = Big South Conference
| short_conf = Big South
| CoachRank =
| APRank =
| record = 6–24
| conf_record = 5–11
| head_coach = Scott Merritt
| hc_year = 1st
| asst_coach1 = Katie Nelson
| asst_coach2 = Lauren Holden
| asst_coach3 = Jonath Nicholas
| arena = Paul Porter Arena
| champion =
| tourney =
| tourney_result =
}}
{{2023–24 Big South women's basketball standings}}
The 2023–24 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs women's basketball team represented Gardner–Webb University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Runnin' Bulldogs, were led by first-year head coach Scott Merritt, played their home games at Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, North Carolina as members of the Big South Conference.
Previous season
The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the 2022–23 season 29–5, 18–0 in Big South play, to finish as Big South regular season champions.{{Cite news|url=https://bigsouthsports.com/standings.aspx?standings=1123|title=2022-23 Women's Basketball Standings|work=Big South Conference|access-date=January 12, 2024|language=en}} In the Big South tournament, they defeated UNC Asheville,{{Cite news|url=https://gwusports.com/news/2023/3/2/womens-basketball-1-gardner-webb-rolls-past-8-unc-asheville-in-quarterfinals-of-2023-hercules-tires-big-south-championships.aspx|title=No. 1 Gardner-Webb Rolls Past No. 8 UNC Asheville in Quarterfinals of 2023 Hercules Tires Big South Basketball Championships|work=Gardner-Webb University Athletics|access-date=January 12, 2024|language=en}} Radford,{{Cite news|url=https://radfordathletics.com/news/2023/3/4/womens-basketball-womens-basketballs-valiant-effort-to-upend-gardner-webb-comes-up-just-short-in-big-south-semifinals.aspx|title=Women's Basketball's Valiant Effort to Upend Gardner-Webb Comes Up Just Short in Big South Semifinals|work=Radford University Athletics|access-date=January 12, 2024|language=en}} and High Point to win the Big South tournament championship and earning the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Joe L II |date=March 5, 2023 |title=Dancin' Dogs: Gardner-Webb women's basketball wins Big South, NCAA Tournament berth |url=https://www.shelbystar.com/story/sports/college/2023/03/05/gardner-webb-womens-basketball-wins-big-south-earns-ncaa-tourney-bid/69967412007 |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Shelby Star |language=en}} They received the #15 seed in the Greenville Regional 2.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/basketball-women/d1/2023|title=2023 Division I Women's Basketball Official Bracket|work=NCAA.com|access-date=January 12, 2024|language=en}} They would end up losing to #2 region seed Utah in the first round.{{Cite news |last=Coon |first=John |date=March 18, 2023 |title=Pili, 2nd-seeded Utah dominate Gardner-Webb in March Madness |url=https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-tournament-march-madness-utah-gardnerwebb-b2deb1b8ae509481fe9f47a7e361b50f |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=AP News |language=en}}
On April 6, head coach Alex Simmons announced that she would be stepping down, after 5 seasons at the helm, in order to take the head coaching position at Memphis.{{Cite news |last=Munz |first=Jason |date=April 6, 2023 |title=Memphis women's basketball hires Alex Simmons, reigning Big South Coach of the Year |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/college/memphis-tigers/2023/04/06/memphis-names-alex-simmons-womens-basketball-coach/70061115007 |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=The Commercial Appeal |language=en}} On April 22, the school named Wisconsin associate head coach Scott Merritt the team's next head coach.{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=Mark |date=April 22, 2023 |title=Scott Merritt leaves Wisconsin to become Gardner-Webb head women's basketball coach |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2023/04/22/merritt-leaves-wisconsin-named-gardner-webb-womens-basketball-coach/70142640007 |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |language=en}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|sex=w|year=2023|team=Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs|teamcolors=y|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Micahla|last=Funderburk|num=0|pos=G|ft=5|in=11|class=sr|rs=|home=Charlotte, NC|high_school=Butler High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kayla|last=Martin|num=1|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=fr|rs=|home=Cambria Heights, NY|high_school=St. Francis Prep}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Amina|last=Gray|num=2|pos=G|ft=5|in=6|class=fr|rs=|home=DeKalb, IL|high_school=Example Academy}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Lauren|last=Bailey|num=3|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=fr|rs=|home=Greeneville, TN|high_school=Greeneville High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Anaya|last=Harris|num=5|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|class=fr|rs=|home=Raleigh, NC|high_school=North Raleigh Christian Academy}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Nyla|last=Walker|num=10|pos=G|ft=5|in=4|class=so|rs=|home=Frankfort, IL|high_school=USC Upstate}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Andrea|last=Martinez|num=13|pos=F|ft=6|in=1|class=fr|rs=|home=Barcelona, Spain|high_school=Boet Mataró}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Ashley|last=Hawkins|num=23|pos=G|ft=5|in=6|class=jr|rs=|home=Long Beach, CA|high_school=Cypress College}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Ramatoulaye|last=Keita|num=30|pos=F|ft=5|in=11|class=gs|rs=|home=Bamako, Mali|high_school=Buffalo}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Grace|last=Pack|num=33|pos=C|ft=6|in=2|class=so|rs=|home=Midlothian, VA|high_school=TPLS Christian Academy}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Trinity|last=Moreland|num=44|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|class=so|rs=|home=Charlotte, NC|high_school=Kansas City}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Scott Merritt ({{college|Marquette}})
|asst_coach=
- Katie Nelson ({{college|Boston University}})
- Lauren Holden ({{college|Fordham}})
- Jonath Nicholas ({{college|UAB}})
|roster_url=https://gwusports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/2023-24
|accessdate=January 12, 2024
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|rank=yes|gamehighs=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 8, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = North Carolina
| opprank = 16
| site_stadium = Carmichael Arena
| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC
| tv = ACCNX
| score = 49–102
| attend = 2,212
| record = 0–1
| highscorer = Funderburk
| points = 16
| highrebounder = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Keita, Pack}}
| rebounds = 5
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Keita, Hawkins}}
| assists = 2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 11, 2023
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Elon
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 69–90
| attend = 245
| record = 0–2
| highscorer = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Hawkins, Martinez}}
| points = 16
| highrebounder = Funderburk
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 15, 2023
| time = 11:00 am
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Richmond
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 53–80
| attend = 2,167
| record = 0–3
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 12
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 11
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 17, 2023
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Charlotte
| site_stadium = Dale F. Halton Arena
| site_cityst = Charlotte, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 43–93
| attend = 635
| record = 0–4
| highscorer = Pack
| points = 11
| highrebounder = {{tooltip|3 Tied|Hawkins, Bailey, Funderburk}}
| rebounds = 5
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 20, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Charleston
| site_stadium = TD Arena
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| tv = FloHoops
| score = 78–90
| attend = 285
| record = 0–5
| highscorer = Walker
| points = 18
| highrebounder = Bailey
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 11
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 26, 2023
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = UNC Greensboro
| site_stadium = Fleming Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Greensboro, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 47–64
| attend = 186
| record = 0–6
| highscorer = Funderburk
| points = 10
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Keita, Walker}}
| assists = 2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 29, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Furman
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 66–73
| attend = 150
| record = 0–7
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 23
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 13
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 7, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Florida Gulf Coast
| site_stadium = Alico Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Myers, FL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 53–102
| attend = 1,251
| record = 0–8
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 20
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 10, 2023
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = South Florida
| site_stadium = Yuengling Center
| site_cityst = Tampa, FL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 75–105
| attend = 2,346
| record = 0–9
| highscorer = Bailey
| points = 18
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 15, 2023
| time = 8:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Appalachian State
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 82–78
| attend = 117
| record = 1–9
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 28
| highrebounder = Martinez
| rebounds = 11
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 17, 2023
| time = 3:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Florida
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 37–115
| attend = 270
| record = 1–10
| highscorer = Funderburk
| points = 11
| highrebounder = Pack
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 20, 2023
| time = 5:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = East Tennessee State
| site_stadium = Brooks Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Johnson City, TN
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 48–60
| attend =
| record = 1–11
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 15
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 30, 2023
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Queens
| site_stadium = Curry Arena
| site_cityst = Charlotte, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 48–66
| attend =
| record = 1–12
| highscorer = Pack
| points = 10
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 12
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 7
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs}}| Big South regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 6, 2024
| time = 1:00 pm
| opponent = High Point
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 64–74
| attend = 215
| record = 1–13
| conference = 0–1
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 20
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 12
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 10, 2024
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Charleston Southern
| site_stadium = Buccaneer Field House
| site_cityst = North Charleston, SC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 61–83
| attend = 347
| record = 1–14
| conference = 0–2
| highscorer = Harris
| points = 18
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 13, 2024
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Presbyterian
| site_stadium = Templeton Physical Education Center
| site_cityst = Clinton, SC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 72–58
| attend = 303
| record = 2–14
| conference = 1–2
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 19
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 17, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Radford
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 71–80
| attend = 115
| record = 2–15
| conference = 1–3
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 20
| highrebounder = Martinez
| rebounds = 17
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 20, 2024
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Winthrop
| site_stadium = Winthrop Coliseum
| site_cityst = Rock Hill, SC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 50–61
| attend = 218
| record = 2–16
| conference = 1–4
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 13
| highrebounder = {{tooltip|3 Tied|Hawkins, Bailey, Martin}}
| rebounds = 5
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 24, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Longwood
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 74–59
| attend = 208
| record = 3–16
| conference = 2–4
| highscorer = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Hawkins, Pack}}
| points = 15
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 13
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 27, 2024
| time = 1:00 pm
| opponent = USC Upstate
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 59–78
| attend = 509
| record = 3–17
| conference = 2–5
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 14
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 16
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 31, 2024
| time = 6:30 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = UNC Asheville
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 58–72
| attend = 341
| record = 3–18
| conference = 2–6
| highscorer = Pack
| points = 18
| highrebounder = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Bailey, Keita}}
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 7, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Presbyterian
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 86–57
| attend = 157
| record = 4–18
| conference = 3–6
| highscorer = Funderburk
| points = 21
| highrebounder = Harris
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 10, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = High Point
| site_stadium = Qubein Center
| site_cityst = High Point, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 72–75
| attend = 1,004
| record = 4–19
| conference = 3–7
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 22
| highrebounder = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Harris, Martinez}}
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 14, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Charleston Southern
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 69–76
| attend = 152
| record = 4–20
| conference = 3–8
| highscorer = Pack
| points = 17
| highrebounder = Pack
| rebounds = 11
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 17, 2024
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = USC Upstate
| site_stadium = G. B. Hodge Center
| site_cityst = Spartanburg, SC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 56–73
| attend =
| record = 4–21
| conference = 3–9
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 11
| highrebounder = Pack
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 21, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Radford
| site_stadium = Dedmon Center
| site_cityst = Radford, VA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 63–58
| attend = 744
| record = 5–21
| conference = 4–9
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 23
| highrebounder = Bailey
| rebounds = 12
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 24, 2024
| time = 1:00 pm
| opponent = UNC Asheville
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 80–65
| attend = 255
| record = 6–21
| conference = 5–9
| highscorer = Harris
| points = 20
| highrebounder = Keita
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 28, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Longwood
| site_stadium = Joan Perry Brock Center
| site_cityst = Farmville, VA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 57–67
| attend = 873
| record = 6–22
| conference = 5–10
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 22
| highrebounder = Hawkins
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 2, 2024
| time = 1:00 pm
| opponent = Winthrop
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 54–72
| attend = 369
| record = 6–23
| conference = 5–11
| highscorer = Harris
| points = 10
| highrebounder = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Harris, Bailey}}
| rebounds = 5
| highassister = Harris
| assists = 4
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs}}|2024 Big South Conference women's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 6, 2024
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 8
| opponent = UNC Asheville
| opprank =
| oppseed = 9
| score = 74–75
| site_stadium = Qubein Center
| site_cityst = High Point, NC
| gamename = Opening round
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Hawkins
| points = 33
| highrebounder = Hawkins
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Hawkins
| assists = 4
| record = 6–24
| overtime =
| attend =
}}
|-
{{CBB schedule end
|timezone=Eastern
|poll=AP poll}}
Sources:{{Cite news|url=https://gwusports.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule/2023-24|title=2023-24 Women's Basketball Schedule|work=Gardner-Webb University Athletics|access-date=January 12, 2024|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/2241/season/2024|title=Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 2023-24 Regular Season NCAAW Schedule|work=ESPN|access-date=January 12, 2024|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs women's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2023-24 Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs women's basketball team}}
Category:Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs women's basketball seasons