Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women’s basketball team hit 33-of-66 field goals and posted its third straight double-figure rebounding margin en route to a 76-66 South Atlantic Conference victory over Lincoln Memorial University Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs have won six straight league games to improve to 13-5 overall and 7-3 in the SAC. The LMU Railsplitters (9-9 overall, 4-6 SAC) have lost five of their last six contests.
 
Wingate sophomore guard Nikki Burton (Charlotte, N.C.) led all scorers with 22 points. She has 20-plus points in four of Wingate’s last five games. Burton filled out her statistical ledger with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Sophomore guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) equaled her SAC season high with 16 points. Senior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) added 13 points.
 
For visiting Lincoln Memorial, senior guard Dayshalee Salaman (Carolina, P.R.) had 19 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. LMU junior guard/forward Ralissa Nelson (Janesville, Wis.) had 10 points, six assists, three rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
Wingate led 40-30 at halftime; the Bulldogs did not trail in the second half. An old-fashioned three-point play by Rutledge put Wingate up 54-41 with 14:28 remaining. The 13-point bulge was the Bulldogs’ biggest lead. The Railsplitters answered with 10-2 run, climaxed on a three-pointer by freshman guard Edina Musa (Skopje, Macedonia) at the 10:38 mark. Junior guard Kelsey Bradford (Metropolis, Ill.) also contributed a triple to the spurt.
 
Musa’s bonus bucket made the score 56-51 Wingate. The Bulldogs responded immediately with an 8-0 flurry to push their advantage back to 13 points. Rutledge started the run with a jumper and Burton put the exclamation point on the streak with two free throws at the 7:47 plateau. The Railsplitters would get no closer than eight points down the stretch.
 
The first half featured five ties and 11 lead changes before Wingate concluded the frame with an 8-0 burst to take the 40-30 halftime lead. LMU led 15-11 on a Nelson jumper four-plus minutes into the stanza. The four-point margin was the Railsplitters’ largest lead. Rutledge hit an inside hoop and senior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) drained a three to put Wingate back on top 16-15.
 
A jumper by LMU freshman guard Sequoya Aldridge (Brunswick, Ga.) made the score 25-24 Railsplitters at the 8:57 mark, giving the visitors their final lead of the day. Wingate concluded the opening frame by outscoring their Tennessee guests 16-5. Burton gave the Bulldogs the lead for good on the next trip down the court. The West Charlotte High School product had six of Wingate’s final 16 first-half points.
 
Lincoln Memorial shot 53.1 percent (26-of-49) on the afternoon. The top scorer in the conference, Salaman hit nine-of-13 attempts Saturday. Wingate’s 50 percent night (33-of-66) was the Bulldogs’ best outing since they hit 50.8 percent (30-of-59) in a season-opening victory over Winston-Salem State (at Johnson C. Smith).
 
Wingate outrebounded LMU 35-23. Burton and Washington had six boards each to top the Bulldog charts. Salaman and three teammates had three rebounds each for the visitors. The Bulldogs equaled their season high with 20 assists. Wingate junior guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) led the way with six helpers. Rutledge and fellow post player Tish Logan (Suitland, Md.) had three assists each.
 
Both teams hit the road Wednesday. Wingate visits first-place Catawba College for a 6 p.m. contest. Lincoln Memorial travels to in-state rival Tusculum for a 6 p.m. tip.

Newspaper Box Score
Lincoln Memorial vs Wingate
01/28/12 2 p.m. at Wingate, N.C.
 
WINGATE WOMEN 76, LINCOLN MEMORIAL 66
LINCOLN MEMORIAL (9-9 overall, 4-6 SAC)
Salaman, Dayshalee 9-13 0-0 19; Nelson, Ralissa 4-8 1-2 10; Boddie, MaRanda 3-6 3-4 9; Musa, Edina 3-6 1-1 8; Bradford, Kelsey 2-5 0-0 6; Richardson, Mariah 2-6 2-2 6; Cochran, Lauren 2-3 2-2 6; Aldridge, Sequoya 1-2 0-4 2. Totals 26-49 9-15 66.
WINGATE (13-5 overall, 7-3 SAC)
Burton, Nikki 9-15 4-4 22; Williams, Janitsha 7-11 2-2 16; Rutledge, Simone 6-10 1-1 13; Washington, Kurie 4-12 0-0 9; Anderson, Jecia 3-3 0-0 6; Montgomery, Jade 2-6 0-0 6; Dunbar, Chantal 1-2 0-0 2; Wollett, Sarah 1-1 0-0 2; Logan, Tish 0-3 0-0 0; Brown, Tiffany 0-1 0-0 0; Boston, Brooklyn 0-2 0-0 0; Bonner, Kelli 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-66 7-7 76.
Lincoln Memorial..............   30   36  -   66
Wingate.......................   40   36  -   76
3-point goals--Lincoln Memorial 5-14 (Bradford, Kelsey 2-5; Musa, Edina 1-3; Nelson, Ralissa 1-5; Salaman, Dayshalee 1-1), Wingate 3-10 (Montgomery, Jade 2-4; Washington, Kurie 1-2; Williams, Janitsha 0-1; Burton, Nikki 0-3). Fouled out--Lincoln Memorial-Cochran, Lauren, Wingate-None. Rebounds--Lincoln Memorial 23 (Salaman, Dayshalee 3; Musa, Edina 3; Nelson, Ralissa 3; Bradford, Kelsey 3), Wingate 35 (Burton, Nikki 6; Washington, Kurie 6). Assists--Lincoln Memorial 13 (Nelson, Ralissa 6), Wingate 20 (Wollett, Sarah 6). Total fouls--Lincoln Memorial 13, Wingate 14. Technical fouls--LMU-None, Wingate-None. A-326
South Atlantic Conference women's basketball, Cuddy Arena, Wingate, N.C.
Wingate visits Catawba Wednesday, Feb. 1 (6 p.m.)
Lincoln Memorial visits Tusculum Wednesday, Feb. 1 (6 p.m.)