Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs knocked down 37 free throws en route to an 87-85 victory over #17 Francis Marion University Saturday afternoon on day two of the 2009 OrthoCarolina Classic. The Bulldogs improve to 6-4 overall, while the Patriots fall to 8-1 on the year.

Sophomore guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) led the Wingate attack with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists. Senior guard Sarah Rosser (Raleigh, N.C.) added 14 points, knocking down all four shots from beyond the arc. Senior center Stacie Rhodes (Knightdale, N.C.) had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for the Bulldogs, while sophomore guard Stephanie Whitenack (West Chester, Ohio) had 10 points and six assists.

Junior guard Shannon Singleton-Bates (South Norwalk, Conn.) led the Patriots with 15 points. Senior guard Eboni Fields (Hephzibah, Ga.) added 13 points, while junior guard Monica Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) had 10 points, four steals and three assists.

The Patriots jumped out to a 25-19 lead on a pair of free throws from senior forward Precious Tucker (Concord, N.C.) at the 10:39 mark of the first half. Wingate answered with a 9-0 run to take a 28-25 lead with 7:45 to go in the half. Freshman guard Britney Mitchell (Indian Trail, N.C.) had three points in the spurt.

A three from Rosser, along with a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Gladney Brown (High Point, N.C.) gave the Bulldogs a 39-30 lead at the five minute mark. The Patriots cut the lead to two on a pair of free throws from Mann two minutes before halftime. Junior guard Emily Parrish (Brevard, N.C.) knocked down a three to push the lead back to six. Mann responded with a three at the buzzer to make it 48-45 at halftime.

Francis Marion tied the game early in the second half. Wingate answered with an 11-3 run to take a 59-51 lead five minutes into the second half. Crumlin had four points in the stretch, while Washington capped it with a three. The Patriots answered with a 10-1 run, cutting the lead to one on a jumper from senior guard Shana Franks (Wilmington, N.C.) at the 12:30 mark.

The Bulldogs once again had the answer, stretching the lead back to seven on a jumper from Mitchell and a free throw from freshman guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) with 6:32 remaining. Francis Marion fought back, slicing the lead to one on a layup from Singleton-Bates with three minutes to go. Back-to-back layups from Washington built the Wingate lead back to five with 2:33 left.

A layup from Francis Marion freshman guard Courtney Mealing (North Augusta, S.C.) made it 87-85 with 48 seconds remaining. The Patriots got the ball back, but Whitenack came up with a huge steal with 24 seconds remaining. Francis Marion had one final chance, getting the ball back with 10 seconds remaining, but was unable to get a shot off in time.

Wingate shot 39.6 percent from the field in the game, while knocking down 37-of-50 free throws (74 percent). The Bulldogs hit eight-of-13 from beyond the arc (61.5 percent). Francis Marion held a 44-39 rebounding advantage, while outscoring Wingate 28-14 in the paint. The Bulldogs converted 24 Francis Marion turnovers into 32 points. The Patriots shot 41.2 percent from the field, and hit nine-of-25 shots from three point range (36 percent). The game featured 59 fouls and 78 free throws.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, January 2, hosting Lincoln Memorial University at 2 p.m. Francis Marion will take on Bluefield College Sunday at 1 p.m. in Myrtle Beach, S.C.