Salisbury, N.C.----The Catawba College women’s basketball team survived a furious Wingate University rally, taking a 64-59 South Atlantic Conference victory over the visiting Bulldogs Wednesday night in Goodman Gymnasium. The Catawba Indians improve to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in the SAC. Wingate is 7-5 overall and 1-2 in the SAC.

For Catawba, junior guard Milica Ivanovic (Belgrade, Serbia) led all scorers with 26 points. Wingate sophomore guard/forward Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) topped the Bulldog charts with 25 points. Ivanovic and Washington were the only players to hit double-digit points Wednesday night.

Wingate led 38-31 on a jumper by freshman forward Tish Logan (Suitland, Md.) with 14:51 remaining in the contest. Catawba answered with a 16-2 run to take a 47-40 lead on two free throws by sophomore forward Dana Hicks (York, S.C.) at the 8:21 mark. Ivanovic had nine points in the flurry, including one of her three three-point field goals on the evening.

Catawba pushed the advantage to 55-44 on two free throws by sophomore center Maggie Sullivan (Fort Mill, S.C.) with 3:58 to play. The 11-point bulge was the Tribe’s biggest lead of the evening. Washington answered with a field goal on the next trip down the floor, ending an 11-minute field goal drought for the visitors.

The Bulldogs did not fold the tents, as Wingate had two chances to tie the contest in the waning moments. Ivanovic nailed a triple to push Catawba’s lead to 58-48 at the 2:11 plateau. Washington went on a personal 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 58-53 with 1:18 to go.

Catawba junior guard Nisha Long (Dallas, N.C.) drained two charity tosses to nudge the lead to 60-53 with 54 seconds left. Wingate senior center Stacie Rhodes (Knightdale, N.C.) converted a put-back hoop with 43 seconds to play. Catawba turned the ball over and Washington hit a jumper with 30 seconds to go, making the game a one-possession contest at 60-57 Indians.

Washington was fouled on the play, but the 2009 SAC Freshman of the Year could not complete the old-fashioned three-point play. Catawba made another turnover. Wingate freshman guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) missed a three-pointer and Washington missed a follow shot. The Bulldogs were forced to foul Ivanovic and she made two free throws with 18 seconds left to make the score 62-57 Catawba.

Wollett hit a huge jumper with 12 ticks left on the clock, pulling the Bulldogs within three at 62-59. Catawba made another turnover with nine seconds remaining, giving the visitors another chance. Wingate missed a jumper and the rebound went out of bounds to the Bulldogs.

A Wingate player stepped out of bounds before the visitors could get a shot at the basket. The Bulldogs fouled Indian junior guard Kisha Long (Dallas, N.C.) and the Gaston Day product made both free throws to settle the final score.

Catawba hit only 30 percent from the field (18-of-60). The Indians hit nine-of-30 attempts in each half. On the evening, the hosts made six-of-11 trifectas (54.5 percent). Catawba made 84.6 percent from the charity stripe (22-of-26). The Indians entered the contest hitting only 68.7 percent from the foul line.

The opportunistic Indians converted 22 Wingate turnovers into 23 points. Wingate won the rebounding battle 43-42, thanks to 11 boards by Rhodes. The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® candidate flirted with a triple-double, as Rhodes filled out the stat sheet with nine points and a career-high seven blocked shots.

Wingate blocked a season-high 14 shots Wednesday. Bulldog junior forward Erica Crumlin (Irmo, S.C.) rejected a season-high six shots. Crumlin contributed six points and nine rebounds to the Wingate cause.

Hicks had nine points and a season-high tying 14 rebounds. On Jan. 7, 2009 at Wingate, Hicks grabbed 16 boards in a 76-67 Catawba victory. Point guard Nisha Long had eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals for the host Indians.

Wingate ventures outside the SAC Saturday, hosting North Greenville University for a 2 p.m. contest in Cuddy Arena. Catawba hits the road Saturday, traveling to Tusculum College for a 2 p.m. league game in Pioneer Arena.