BOX SCORE

Harrogate, Tenn.----Wingate University freshman guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) had a career-high 20 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 97-61 win over Lincoln Memorial University in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball action Saturday evening. The ‘Dogs win their fourth straight game, improving to 12-6 overall and 7-3 in the SAC. LMU falls to 8-10 overall and 3-7 in the conference.

Wingate has piled up impressive totals during the four-game winning streak, outscoring its opponents 317-237 for an average margin of victory of 20 points. The Bulldogs have not trailed in the second half during the streak, and have trailed for only 80 seconds total. Wingate has been dominant in the first half, outscoring their opponents 160-78 in the opening frame.

Williams hit eight-of-14 shots from the field and four-of-nine from three-point range, while adding a career-high nine rebounds. Junior guard Tiffany Brown (Cartersville, Ga.) added a career-high 17 points, hitting three-of-four from beyond the arc. As a team, the ‘Dogs knocked down 10-of-17 shots from three-point range (58.8 percent). Junior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) had 15 points, while freshman forward Shey Brown (Rockingham, N.C.) contributed 12 points for the Bulldogs.

Junior guard Dayshalee Salaman (Carolina, P.R.) led the Railsplitters with 17 points and seven rebounds. Freshman forward Kendra Holmes (Leesburg, Va.) added 12 points, while junior guard Destiny Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.) chipped in with 10 points.

The Bulldogs used a 12-0 run to take a 33-15 lead with 6:39 remaining in the opening half. Williams knocked down three triples in the flurry. After a free throw from Holmes cut the lead to 17, Wingate went on an 8-0 run to take a 41-16 advantage. A three from Wollett sparked the spurt, while freshman forward Chantal Dunbar (Virginia Beach, Va.) added three free throws. LMU closed the half on an 8-2 run to cut Wingate’s halftime lead to 43-24. Salaman had all eight points for the Railsplitters in the spurt, knocking down a pair of triples.

A layup from junior center Patrice Talley (Easley, S.C.) 1:25 into the second half cut the Wingate lead to 15. The Bulldogs answered with a 9-0 run to take a 54-30 lead at the 15:59 mark. Williams scored the last five points of the spurt, including a three to cap it. The ‘Dogs still led by 24 with 12:14 remaining, when they went on a 14-0 run to take a 78-40 advantage. Washington started the flurry with a three-point play, while Tiffany Brown capped it with a triple to give Wingate its largest lead of the night. The lead would not go below 30 the rest of the way.

Wingate shot a season-best 56.7 percent from the field, while holding LMU to just 33.3 percent shooting. The ‘Dogs also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Lincoln Memorial 47-30. Wingate made a season-high 34 field goals, while also collecting a season-best 22 assists. Junior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) led the Bulldogs with six assists. Wingate got 50 points off the bench, outscoring the Railsplitter bench by 30.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, hosting Catawba College at 6 p.m. LMU hosts Tusculum College Wednesday at 6 p.m.