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Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore guard Nikki Burton (Charlotte, N.C.) scored 19 of her 23 points after intermission, leading the Bulldogs to a 61-51 South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball victory over Anderson (S.C.) University Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena. Burton hit six-of-10 field goals and 11-of-13 free throws en route to her top scoring performance against a league opponent. Wingate is 12-5 overall (6-3 SAC) with its fifth straight victory. Anderson is 6-11 overall and 3-6 in the SAC.

Burton notched her first Wingate double-double with a team-high 12 rebounds. The West Charlotte High School product filled out her statistical ledger with four assists and three steals, both team highs. Anderson junior guard Alissa Diaz (Coral Springs, Fla.) joined Burton in the double-double club with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Diaz’s 29 points are a career-high.

Wingate finished the game on a 20-10 run. Anderson junior forward Breonda Shannon (Columbia, S.C.) hit a jumper to tie the game for the third and final time 41-41 with 8:33 remaining. The Trojans had several opportunities to take their first lead since 2-0, but the visitors missed three shots and one free throw before Wingate senior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) hit a free throw with 5:24 left to give the hosts the lead for good.
 
Burton followed the Rutledge free throw with a personal 7-0 run to put Wingate up 49-41 with 4:10 to play. She concluded the personal flurry with a steal and a lay-up. The University of Louisville transfer scored 12 of Wingate’s final 20 points as the Bulldogs stretched their lead to as many as 13 in the waning moments. Wingate junior guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) scored all six of her points in the last 3:18 to support Burton’s explosion.
 
The Bulldogs led 25-22 at intermission, as eight Wingate players found the first-half scoring column. Anderson freshman guard Sierra Simpson (Simpsonville, S.C.) tallied the game’s first basket (19:56), giving the visiting Trojans their only lead of the night. Bulldog junior forward Tish Logan (Suitland, Md.) scored Wingate’s initial hoop, then sophomore guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) nailed a triple at the 16:53 to put her team up 5-2.

Logan completed a game-opening 10-2 flurry with a jumper at the 15:04 mark, giving the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the first frame. Logan, Rutledge and Burton had four points each to pace Wingate’s first-half efforts. Diaz had 11 points and six rebounds in the first 20 minutes, hitting four-of-seven field goals and two-of-three three-pointers.
 
Wingate outrebounded Anderson 46-33, thanks to Burton, Williams (nine rebounds) and Logan (eight boards). The Bulldogs have back-to-back games with a double-figure rebounding margin, as Wingate had a plus-17 rebounding bulge Saturday at Brevard. The Bulldog bench outscored the Anderson reserves 41-5. Wingate held a 14-4 advantage in fast-break points and a 14-3 edge in second-chance points.
 
Diaz completed her career-night by hitting 10-of-17 field goals and five-of-seven three-pointers. Shannon and junior center Tilde Ahlin (Sodertalje, Sweden) contributed six points each for the visiting Trojans. Shannon had seven rebounds, while Ahlin grabbed six caroms. Anderson converted 18 Wingate turnovers into 18 points. Simpson led both teams with her six steals.
 
Both teams start the second half of SAC play Saturday. Wingate hosts Lincoln Memorial University Saturday at 2 p.m. The LMU Railsplitters topped Wingate 82-73 Nov. 30 in Harrogate, Tenn. Burton posted 21 points in her SAC debut. Anderson returns home Saturday, entertaining Brevard College at 2 p.m.

Newspaper Box Score
Anderson (S.C.) vs Wingate
01/25/12 6 p.m. at Wingate, N.C.

WINGATE WOMEN 61, ANDERSON (S.C.) 51
ANDERSON (S.C.) (6-11 overall, 3-6 SAC)
Diaz, Alissa 10-17 4-8 29; Ahlin, Tilde 3-7 0-0 6; Shannon, Breonda 3-7 0-1 6; Willoughby, Emily 1-4 0-1 3; Parris, Amanda 1-8 0-1 3; Simpson, Sierra 1-5 0-2 2; Woods, Lesley 1-2 0-0 2; Woods, Lauren 0-3 0-0 0; Moore, Jaclyn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-54 4-13 51.
WINGATE (12-5 overall, 6-3 SAC)
Burton, Nikki 6-10 11-13 23; Rutledge, Simone 3-6 1-4 7; Logan, Tish 3-10 0-0 6; Wollett, Sarah 1-3 4-4 6; Dunbar, Chantal 2-3 1-2 5; Brown, Tiffany 2-8 1-3 5; Williams, Janitsha 1-5 1-2 4; Bonner, Kelli 1-4 0-0 3; Washington, Kurie 1-3 0-0 2; Thompson, Jakari 0-0 0-0 0; Montgomery, Jade 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-52 19-28 61.
Anderson (S.C.)...............   22   29  -   51
Wingate.......................   25   36  -   61
3-point goals--Anderson (S.C.) 7-26 (Diaz, Alissa 5-7; Parris, Amanda 1-5; Willoughby, Emily 1-4; Simpson, Sierra 0-3; Woods, Lesley 0-1; Woods, Lauren 0-3; Ahlin, Tilde 0-3), Wingate 2-12 (Bonner, Kelli 1-4; Williams, Janitsha 1-5; Wollett, Sarah 0-1; Brown, Tiffany 0-1; Washington, Kurie 0-1). Fouled out--Anderson (S.C.)-None, Wingate-None. Rebounds--Anderson (S.C.) 33 (Diaz, Alissa 10), Wingate 46 (Burton, Nikki 12). Assists--Anderson (S.C.) 12 (Woods, Lesley 3), Wingate 10 (Burton, Nikki 4). Total fouls—Anderson (S.C.) 17, Wingate 17. Technical fouls--Anderson (S.C.)-None, Wingate-None. A-299
SAC women's basketball, Cuddy Arena, Wingate, N.C.
Wingate hosts Lincoln Memorial, Saturday, Jan. 28 (2 p.m.)
Anderson (S.C.) hosts Brevard, Saturday, Jan. 28 (2 p.m.)