Wingate, N.C.----Sophomore guard/forward Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) had 20 points and seven rebounds as the Wingate University Bulldogs knocked off the Catawba College Indians 75-59 in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball action Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 12-9 overall and 5-5 in the SAC. Catawba falls to 13-7 on the year and 6-3 in the conference.

Washington knocked down three-of-six shots from beyond the arc, while also connecting on nine-of-13 free throws for her game-high 20 points. Senior center Stacie Rhodes (Knightdale, N.C.) added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs, while senior guard Sarah Rosser (Raleigh, N.C.) chipped in with 11 points. Freshman guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) filled the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Junior guard Nisha Long (Dallas, N.C.) led the Catawba attack with 15 points and three assists. Junior guard Milica Ivanovic (Belgrade, Serbia) added 12 points for the Catawba Indians, while sophomore center Dana Hicks (York, S.C.) had eight points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

Wingate used a 15-2 first half run to turn a tie game into a 13-point lead. Washington got it started with a three, while freshman guard Britney Mitchell (Indian Trail, N.C.) capped it with a jumper at the 5:22 mark to make it 34-21. Rosser had five points in the spurt.

Catawba answered with an 8-2 run to trim the lead to seven on a three-point play from Long at the 3:10 mark. The Bulldogs responded by scoring eight of the final 11 points in the half to take a 44-32 lead into intermission. Wollett capped the final run with a pair of free throws with one second remaining in the half.

Wingate scored the first nine points in the second half to take a 53-32 lead three minutes in. Freshman forward Tish Logan (Suitland, Md.) scored the first four points in the spurt, while Washington finished it with a pair of free throws. After Catawba cut the lead to 18 on a layup from Long, the Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run to push the lead to 27. Rhodes scored the final four points in the stretch to make it 64-37 at the 12:37 mark. Catawba would get no closer than 15 the rest of the way.

The Bulldogs dominated the glass, holding a 55-33 rebounding advantage, including a 22-11 edge in offensive boards. Wingate had 25 second chance points, compared to Catawba’s 11. The Bulldogs also outscored the Catawba Indians 28-16 in the paint.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, Feb. 10, traveling to Tusculum College for a 6 p.m. start. Wingate returns home Wednesday, February 17, hosting Mars Hill College at 6 p.m. Catawba is in action Saturday, hosting Tusculum at 2 p.m.