BOX SCORE

Newberry, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs had four players score in double figures, while leading wire-to-wire in a 76-61 win at Newberry College Wednesday night in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball action. The Bulldogs improve to 9-6 overall and 4-3 in the SAC, while Newberry falls to 9-6 overall and 4-3 in the SAC.

Junior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with 14 points. Wingate freshman guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) added 11 points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, while junior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) had 11 points and five rebounds. Junior guard Tiffany Brown (Cartersville, Ga.) had six points and a game-high five assists for the Bulldogs.

Senior guard Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Newberry attack. McKinney hit only five-of-25 field goals Wednesday. Senior forward Briana Johnson (Irmo, S.C.) added 14 points for the Wolves.

The Bulldogs came out hot, taking a 12-2 lead seven minutes into the game. Wollett and Williams had four points each in the opening spurt. Wingate continued to build on its lead, using a 10-0 run to take a 36-14 advantage at the 2:28 mark. Five different Bulldogs scored in the flurry, while Brown assisted on three of the buckets. A pair of free throws from Washington 29 seconds before halftime gave the ‘Dogs a 40-17 advantage heading to intermission.

The Wolves scored the first seven points of the second half, cutting the lead to 16 on a three-point play from McKinney. The Bulldogs answered with a 12-4 run to take a 52-28 lead at the 14:34 mark. Freshman forward Shey Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) capped the spurt by scoring the last five points.

A lay-up from Williams with 11:02 remaining gave Wingate its largest lead of the night at 58-32. Newberry cut the deficit to 15 at the 4:19 mark, but a jumper from Wollett and a pair of free throws from Williams pushed the advantage back to 18 with 1:54 to go.

Wingate shot 44.4 percent from the field, while hitting 18-of-24 from the free throw line (75 percent). Newberry shot only 27.5 percent from the field. The ‘Dogs dominated inside, outscoring Newberry 44-10 in the paint. Wingate out-rebounded Newberry 47-45 on the night.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, hosting Brevard College at 2 p.m. Newberry hosts Catawba College Saturday at 2 p.m.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)