Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University sophomore guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) has been named the South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball Player of the Week, league officials announced Monday. Washington averaged 22.3 points per game, leading the Bulldogs to a 2-1 record which included a win over #17 Francis Marion. This is the first time this year and third time in her career she has been named the league’s Player of the Week. 

Washington started her week with 21 points and six rebounds in a 76-51 win over Anderson, hitting nine-of-15 shots from the field and two-of-three from beyond the arc. She poured in a season-high 28 points in a tough 69-65 loss to #15 Clayton State Friday, knocking down all 10 free throws and four-of-five three point shots.

In the win over Francis Marion, Washington had 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists on the day. She shot 50 percent from the field on the week, while shooting 89.5 percent from the free throw line and 66.7 percent from three point range. She also had eight assists, five steals and two blocks on the week.

The 2008-09 SAC Freshman of the Year, Washington is third in the SAC with 16.9 points per game this year. She is shooting 44.4 percent from three point range, and 86.7 percent from the free throw line. Washington has scored in double figures in nine of Wingate’s 10 games this year, while scoring 15 or more points eight times. 

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers more than 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past three years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.