Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Cuddy Arena, hosting Brevard College in South Atlantic Conference action. The tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. 

On Wednesday night, number 10 Carson-Newman (14-0 overall) topped Wingate University 78-68 in Holt Fieldhouse on the Carson-Newman campus. For Wingate, senior center Stacie Rhodes (Knightdale, N.C.) and sophomore guard/forward Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) posted 13 points each. Rhodes hit six-of-six shots from the floor Wednesday. Bulldog junior guard CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, while junior forward Stefani Shuey (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 10 points on five-of-six shooting. 

Wingate won both games against Brevard last season. At Wingate, the Bulldogs placed five in double figures as the hosts prevailed 94-72 on Feb. 14, 2009. Sophomore guard Gladney Brown had a career-high 19 points, hitting nine-of-11 shots from the field. Samantha Winn led the BC Tornados with a game-high 28 points. 

At Brevard, sophomore guard Washington tallied a (then) career-high 28 points and the Bulldogs rallied from an 18-point second half deficit to pick up a 94-88 victory on Jan. 17, 2009. Holli Flippo netted a career-high 21 points for Brevard. She hit six-of-nine three-point field goals. 

Washington leads with Wingate with 17.3 points per game, good enough for third on the SAC scoring charts. The 2009 SAC Freshman of the Year, Washington led the league with her 18.8 points per game average in SAC games. The McDowell High School product led first-year SAC players with her 15.4 points per game average last year. 

Brooks is next on Wingate’s scoring charts with her 7.9 points per game. Rhodes contributes 7.4 points per game and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per contest. Rhodes leads Wingate with 30 blocked shots.
The Bulldogs play tough defense. Wingate is second in the SAC in scoring defense, allowing only 62.1 points per game. The Bulldogs allow opponents to shoot a paltry 36.7 percent from the floor, also second on the conference charts. 

Winn is the second-leading scorer in the conference, as the Brevard senior averages 20.4 points per game. Most recently, Brevard dropped a 78-68 decision at Catawba Wednesday night. Winn hit her average, leading the Tornados with 20 points. Brevard has played five overtime games this season. 

Wingate head coach Barbara Nelson and her Bulldogs are 24-6 in Cuddy Arena during Nelson’s three years at the Bulldog helm. In 2007-08, Wingate was a perfect 12-0 at home as the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the third time in school history. 

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.