Wingate uses late run to top Lady Eagles, 74-55

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) had 18 points to lead four Bulldogs in double figures as Wingate notched a 74-55 victory over the visiting Carson-Newman College Eagles in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the SAC, while the Eagles fall to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the SAC.

Sophomore guard Nikki Burton (Charlotte, N.C.) had 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks for the Bulldogs. Sophomore forward Chantal Dunbar (Norfolk, Va.) notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) had 11 points. Senior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) added nine points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Bulldogs.

Junior forward Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) and sophomore forward Shannon Depew (Newport, Tenn.) had 13 points each to lead the Carson-Newman attack. Senior forward Zoriah Williams (Calera, Ala.) added 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles.

The Bulldogs used a 9-0 run to turn a tie game into a 21-12 advantage midway through the opening half. Junior guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) got things started with a three, while Washington added four points in the flurry. A lay-up from Dunbar put the Bulldogs on top by 13 at the 8:50 mark. The Eagles scored the next five points to make the score 27-19 with 5:25 to go on a jumper from James. A Dunbar jumper, a Washington triple and a Burton jumper gave Wingate a 14-point lead with under two minutes to go. Depew answered with a jumper to cut the Bulldog lead to 37-25 at halftime.

The Eagles scored seven straight points to get within six when a pair of free throws from Williams made the tally 42-36 eight minutes into the half. The Bulldogs were able to push the lead back to double figures when a Burton bucket made the score 50-40 with nine minutes remaining. The Eagles responded with six straight points to trim the lead to four on a jumper from Williams at the 7:54 mark.

Wingate responded with the key run of the contest, outscoring the Eagles 12-3 in a three-minute span to take a 13-point lead. Washington scored the first seven points of the critical flurry, while Burton added a triple. Rutledge capped the explosion with a jumper to make the score 62-49 with 5:15 remaining. A Williams' lay-up cut the C-N deficit to 11 with 4:21 to go, but Wingate scored the next 10 points, pushing the lead to 21 on a lay-up from Rutledge at the 1:05 mark.

The Bulldogs shot 43 percent from the field, while knocking down five-of-13 shots from three-point range (38.5 percent). Carson-Newman shot 31 percent from the field, hitting only one-of-seven shots from beyond the arc (14.3 percent). Wingate held a 46-38 rebounding advantage, while scoring 25 points from 20 Carson-Newman turnovers. The 'Dogs also held a 24-6 advantage in fast break points.

Wingate returns to action Friday, December 16, hosting Erskine College at 7 p.m. The Eagles travel to Maryville (Tenn.) College Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start.