Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) hit six-of-eight field goals for 15 points as the Bulldogs defeated first-place Newberry College 69-58 in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball action Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 10-5 overall and 4-3 in the SAC. Newberry drops to 10-5 overall and 5-2 in the SAC.
Sophomore guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) topped the Bulldog charts with 16 points. Classmate Nikki Burton (Charlotte, N.C.) had 12 points and eight rebounds, while senior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) added 10 points and six boards for the hosts. The Bulldogs won five-of-five specialty statistical categories, including a 29-16 advantage in bench points.
Newberry freshman guard Zara Pearson (Echuca, Victoria, Australia) led the Wolves with 13 points. She hit three-of-seven three-point field goals. Senior guard Keisha Henderson (Columbia, S.C.) added 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Wolves junior guard Neicey Lewis (Riverdale, Ga.) and freshman center Haylee Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia) contributed 10 points each.
Wingate did not trail in the second half. A Burton fast-break hoop put the Bulldogs up 44-32 with 14:37 remaining. The 12-point bulge was Wingate’s largest lead Wednesday. Two Lewis free throws cut the Newberry deficit to 53-49 with 8:46 to play, but the Wolves could not climb the mountain. The visitors would get no closer the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs answered with a 7-0 run, with Williams, Washington and Rutledge contributing to the touchdown and extra point. Rutledge’s inside jumper made the score 60-49 with 6:19 left. Newberry would cut the deficit to seven with three minutes to go, but Wingate would hit seven-of-11 free throws in the last minute to keep the Wolves at bay.
Wingate led 26-24 at intermission, as Williams netted nine first-half points. Henderson matched Williams with nine, while Lewis contributed eight markers. A Lewis three-point field goal put Newberry up 9-6 with 15 minutes left in the first frame. Williams and Rutledge answered with inside jumpers, giving the Bulldogs the lead for good.
Bulldog junior forward Tish Logan (Suitland, Md.) had a solid night with seven points, eight rebounds and a team-best four steals. Wingate matched its season average with 14 steals. The Bulldogs converted 20 Newberry turnovers into 19 points. The two teams had 39 rebounds each. Newberry sophomore guard/forward Ellie Gleeson (Albury, New South Wales, Australia) led both teams with nine rebounds. She added eight points and two assists to her statistical ledger.
Wingate hits the road Saturday, visiting Brevard College for a 2 p.m. tip. Newberry visits Catawba College Saturday at 2 p.m. Newberry, Catawba and Tusculum are tied for first place in the SAC women’s basketball standings. Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne and Lincoln Memorial are one game back in the crowded league race.
Newspaper Box Score
Newberry vs Wingate
01/18/12 6 p.m. at Wingate, N.C.
WINGATE WOMEN 69, NEWBERRY 58
NEWBERRY (10-5 overall, 5-2 SAC)
Pearson, Zara 5-9 0-0 13; Henderson, Keisha 3-4 5-6 12; Lepaio, Haylee 4-12 2-2 10; Lewis, Neicey 3-12 3-4 10; Gleeson, Ellie 4-7 0-0 8; Brown, Brittany 1-4 0-0 2; Taylor, Devanee 1-3 0-1 2; Perry, Emily 0-0 1-3 1; Brown, Kendra 0-4 0-2 0. Totals 21-55 11-18 58.
WINGATE (10-5 overall, 4-3 SAC)
Williams, Janitsha 4-10 6-8 16; Washington, Kurie 6-8 2-3 15; Burton, Nikki 4-12 3-4 12; Rutledge, Simone 4-9 2-2 10; Logan, Tish 3-7 1-4 7; Wollett, Sarah 1-3 4-4 6; Brown, Tiffany 1-5 0-0 2; Dunbar, Chantal 0-3 1-2 1; Anderson, Jecia 0-0 0-0 0; Boston, Brooklyn 0-1 0-0 0; Bonner, Kelli 0-0 0-0 0; Montgomery, Jade 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-58 19-27 69.
Newberry...................... 24 34 - 58
Wingate....................... 26 43 - 69
3-point goals--Newberry 5-15 (Pearson, Zara 3-7; Henderson, Keisha 1-1;
Lewis, Neicey 1-5; Brown, Kendra 0-1; Gleeson, Ellie 0-1), Wingate 4-10
(Williams, Janitsha 2-5; Burton, Nikki 1-1; Washington, Kurie 1-3; Brown, Tiffany 0-1). Fouled out--Newberry-Gleeson, Ellie, Wingate-None. Rebounds--Newberry 39 (Gleeson, Ellie 9), Wingate 39 (Logan, Tish 8; Burton, Nikki 8). Assists--Newberry 9 (Henderson, Keisha 5), Wingate 14 (Wollett, Sarah 4; Rutledge, Simone 4). Total fouls--Newberry 21, Wingate 15. Technical fouls--Newberry-None, Wingate-None. A-245
SAC women's basketball, Cuddy Arena, Wingate, N.C.
Wingate visits Brevard Saturday, Jan. 21 (2 p.m.)
Newberry visits Catawba Saturday, Jan. 21 (2 p.m.)
