March 2, 2008

Final Stats

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs topped the Eagles of Carson-Newman College 80-64 Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action in Cuddy Arena, extending their home court winning streak to 18 games. The Bulldogs improve to 20-7 overall and 12-2 in the SAC. Carson-Newman falls to 14-13 overall and 7-7 in the league.

Wingate is now 15-1 overall when scoring at least 80 points this season. With today's victory, the Bulldogs and first-year head coach Barbara Nelson posted their 20th 20-win season in the program's illustrious senior college history.

The number two seed Bulldogs host number seven seed Catawba College Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in the first round of the 2008 Food Lion SAC tournament. The number three seed C-N Eagles entertain number six seed Mars Hill College Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in another first-round tilt.

Wingate junior point guard Anna Atkinson (Marion, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with 19 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals. Senior forward/guard Kasey Gillis (Indian Trail, N.C.) added 16 points, while senior guard Kate Edwards (Laurinburg, N.C.) contributed 15 points and four steals.

Carson-Newman junior guard Ashley Tipton (Knoxville, Tenn.) had 13 points to lead the Eagles. Sophomore forward/center Shari Buford (Hampton, Ga.) and junior guard Lindsey Eggleston (Buena Vista, Colo.) added 12 points each.

Wingate jumped out to a quick 10-point lead (17-7) on a lay-up from CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) at the 15:39 mark. The teams would trade baskets over the next several minutes until a pair of free throws from Carson-Newman Emily Mason (Rogersville, Ala.) cut the lead to five at 31-26 with 5:20 remaining in the half.

Jumpers from Wingate's Stefani Shuey (Charlotte, N.C.) and Stacie Rhodes (Raliegh, N.C.) stretched the lead back to nine points at 35-26. The Eagles responded with an 8-3 run to end the half, capped by a three-point field goal from Tipton to make it 38-34 at intermission.

Edwards started the second half with a three-pointer to put Wingate up 41-34. The Bulldogs would use an 11-2 run to take a 66-48 advantage at the 9:04 mark. Brooks had the last five points of the flurry. The lead would never go below 13 the rest of the way. The Bulldogs extended the advantage as high as 21 (76-55) on a jumper from Rhodes with 4:19 remaining. The Bulldogs did not trail in the entire contest.

Wingate was 29-of-63 (46 percent) from the field, while hitting six-of-12 (50 percent) three-point field goals. The Eagles were 22-of-54 (40.7 percent) from the field, while hitting four-of-13 (30.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs converted 27 Carson-Newman turnovers into 35 points. Wingate racked up 16 steals on the day, while committing only 11 turnovers.

The Eagles held a 43-27 advantage in rebounding, but Wingate outscored Carson-Newman 14-12 in second-chance points. The Bulldogs also had a 32-24 advantage in points in the paint.