BOX SCORE
Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) and sophomore guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) had 18 points each, leading the Bulldogs past the Pioneers of Tusculum College in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action Sunday afternoon in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in the SAC, while Tusculum falls to 6-6 overall and 2-2 in the league.
Washington was a perfect five-for-five from the field on the afternoon, while also knocking down all eight free throws. Wollett knocked down three-of-five shots from three-point range, while also collecting five rebounds and three assists. Junior forward
Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) added eight points and six rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Jasmine Gunn led the Tusculum attack with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Catherine Hintz added 11 points and eight boards, while
Staci Hicks also contributed 11 points for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers never trailed in the first half. A jumper from Hicks put Tusculum on top 26-18 with 4:04 remaining in the half. The ‘Dogs responded by scoring the last six points of the half to cut the halftime deficit to two. Junior guard
Tiffany Brown (Cartersville, Ga.) got it started with a steal and a layup, while Wollett scored the final four points of the spurt with a layup and a jumper.
The Pioneers pushed the lead back to six on a jumper from Hintz five minutes into the second half. A Wollett triple sliced the lead to one a minute later. Jumpers from Hintz and Gunn gave Tusculum a 40-35 advantage with 12 minutes to go. The ‘Dogs had the answer, scoring the next eight points to take their first lead of the game. Wollett got it started with a triple, while junior guard
CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) tied it with a jumper. Washington capped the spurt with a jumper to make it 43-40 at the midway point of the second half.
The Bulldogs maintained their lead, pushing it to five on a Washington layup with 5:11 remaining. Gunn tied the game with a three at the 4:21 mark, then put the Pioneers back on top with a free throw 25 seconds later. A pair of Washington free throws gave the Bulldogs the lead back at the 3:43 mark. Gunn answered a Washington jumper with a layup to tie it at 56 with 2:29 to go.
Wollett knocked down a huge three with just over two minutes remaining to make it 59-56. Gunn answered with a three-point play to tie it at the 1:53 mark. Wingate took the lead for good on a free throw from Rutledge, while a jumper from Washington at the 1:11 mark pushed the lead to three. Wollett added two free throws to give Wingate a 64-59 lead with 56 seconds to go. Washington added four more free throws in the final 25 seconds to secure the win for the Bulldogs.
Wingate shot 41.4 percent from the field, while hitting four-of-11 shots from three-point range (36.4 percent). Tusculum shot just 33.3 percent from the field and hit three-of-14 shots from beyond the arc (21.4 percent). Wingate held a 41-35 rebounding advantage, while the Bulldog bench outscored Tusculum’s bench 33-23. The two teams were even in points in the paint and second chance points.
The bulldogs return to action Wednesday, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne at 6 p.m. Tusculum travels to Carson-Newman Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start.
