Wingate,  N.C.----The Wingate University women’s basketball team returns to South Atlantic Conference play Wednesday night, hosting Catawba College for a 6 p.m. contest in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs (7-3 overall this year, 1-1 SAC) have won the last three meetings between the two teams in Wingate.

Last season, Wingate took two of three from the Indians (6-4 overall, 1-1 SAC). On March 2, Wingate junior guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) had 21 points, knocking down four-of-five shots from three-point range, as the second-seeded Bulldogs defeated the seventh-seeded Indians 68-62 in quarterfinal action of the 2011 Food Lion SAC tournament Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena. Forward Dana Hicks had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the visiting Indians.
 
In the second regular season match-up, Wingate guard CC Brooks (’11) hit two free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining to lift the host Bulldogs to a 60-58 win over Catawba Feb. 2. On Jan. 6, host Catawba rallied for a 58-56 victory over the visiting Bulldogs in Goodman Gymnasium. Sophomore guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with 13 points, knocking down three-of-five shots from three-point range. Hicks had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the host Indians.
 
On Monday night, Wingate started the second half on a 20-4 run and never looked back, taking a 69-60 victory over NCAA Division I the College of Charleston at TD Arena and John Kresse Court. The host Cougars did not hit a field goal for the first 6:45 of the second stanza.
 
Wingate sophomore guard Nikki Burton (Charlotte, N.C.) had 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocked shots for the visitors. Bulldog senior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) posted 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Sophomore forward Chantal Dunbar (Norfolk, Va.) contributed 12 points and five rebounds as Wingate shot 50 percent from the floor (17-of-34) after intermission.
 
Burton leads Wingate with her 15.7 points per game. The University of Louisville transfer is fifth on the SAC scoring charts. Williams and senior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) are contributing 11.3 points per game each. Rutledge posts 9.1 points per game and a team-best 6.5 rebounds per game. She is the only Bulldog player to start every game this season.
 
Guard Nisha Long leads the Catawba Indians with her 16.8 points per game. She ranks third on the SAC scoring charts. Hicks leads the league with her 11.5 rebounds per game. The Indians played two December games in Cuddy Arena, thanks to their participation in the 2011 OrthoCarolina Classic. Catawba defeated Erskine (70-56) and Belmont Abbey (64-50) during the annual event.
 
The Bulldogs are 4-0 at home this season. Wingate head coach Barbara Nelson has led her charges to a 37-11 home record in her five seasons, including a 12-0 mark during the Bulldogs’ 2008 NCAA Division II Elite Eight campaign. Wingate visits Tusculum Saturday (2 p.m.), while Catawba hosts Anderson at the same time.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a comprehensive university with more than 2,500 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. The university offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.
 
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years.
 
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 42 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 51 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.