BOX SCORE

Greeneville, Tenn.----Tusculum College All-American senior point guard Jasmine Gunn (Nashville, Tenn.) posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals to lead the Pioneers to a 69-48 South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball victory over Wingate University Saturday afternoon in Pioneer Arena.

Senior center Catherine Hintz (Hastings, Minn.) joined classmate Gunn with a double-double, as the 6-8 post player contributed 18 points and 15 rebounds off the Pioneer bench. TC junior forward Staci Hicks (Loveland, Ohio) added 10 points. First-place Tusculum improves to 16-6 overall and 12-2 in the SAC. Second-place Wingate is 14-8 overall and 9-5 in the SAC. The Bulldogs and the Pioneers split the season series, as Wingate recorded a 69-63 home triumph on Sunday, Jan. 9.

Wingate junior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) had 13 points to lead the Bulldog attack. The All-SAC performer hit three-of-six field goals and seven-of-nine free throws. Bulldog junior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) contributed 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds for the visitors.

The Bulldogs started strong, bolting to a 14-6 lead on two free throws by freshman guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) with 12:56 to play in the opening frame. Six different players scored in the flurry, led by Washington and her four points.

Wingate went 10 minutes without a field goal as Tusculum took the lead for good. A three-pointer by junior guard Tiffany Brown (Cartersville, Ga.) pulled the Bulldogs within three (21-18) at the 3:45 mark. The Pioneers answered Brown’s triple with 9-0 run to take a 30-18 lead on a Hintz jumper with 1:40 to play. Rutledge hit a jumper and Washington made two free throws to pull the visitors within eight (30-22) at intermission.

Williams opened the second stanza with a jumper to close the deficit to 30-24 at the 19:43 mark, but the Bulldogs would get no closer the rest of the way. Tusculum responded with a 15-2 flurry to take a 45-26 advantage on a jumper by sophomore guard Kendal Baxter (Sevierville, Tenn.) at the 14:35 plateau.

The Bulldogs did not fold the tents, scoring seven unanswered points to cut the margin to 45-33 on a free throw by Washington at the 12:15 juncture. Washington contributed five of the seven points. Wingate could not get over the mountain, as 12 points was as close as the Bulldogs would get down the stretch. Tusculum led by as many as 23 points in the waning moments.

The Pioneers outscored the Bulldogs 36-14 in the paint. Tusculum converted 22 Wingate turnovers into 28 points. The North Carolina visitors managed only 14 points from 15 Pioneer miscues. The Tusculum bench outdistanced the Wingate reserves by a score of 26-15. Second-chance points favored the Pioneers by a 21-6 margin.

Wingate shot 27.8 percent from the floor (15-of-54) Saturday. The Bulldogs hit only six first half field goals in 29 tries (20.7 percent). Wingate attempted 16 three-point field goals, making three (18.8 percent). Tusculum converted 42.2 percent of its field goal attempts (27-of-64). The Pioneers were four-of-eight from downtown (50 percent).

Tusculum outrebounded Wingate 47-35. Ten of Hintz’ 15 boards were offensive rebounds, while Gunn pulled down five offensive and five defensive rebounds. TC junior forward Linda Aughburns (Fayetteville, N.C.) had eight boards. Rutledge’s seven boards topped the Wingate charts. Senior guard CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) had four rebounds to go with eight points and a team-high four assists.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, hosting Newberry College at 6 p.m. Wingate completes the 2011 league slate with three of four home games. Tusculum travels to Anderson (S.C.) University Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start.