Greeneville,  Tenn.----The Wingate University women’s basketball team travels to Tennessee Saturday for an afternoon matinee against the Tusculum College Pioneers. Game time in Pioneer Arena is 2 p.m. The contest is a re-match of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament championship game.
 
Last year, the two teams split home contests before Tusculum claimed a 77-66 victory in the March 6 SAC title tilt. Wingate senior guard Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with 12 points and seven rebounds. Guards Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) and CC Brooks (’11) added 11 points each for the Bulldogs. Tusculum’s Jasmine Gunn led all scorers with 25 points.
 
Gunn posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals to lead the Pioneers to a 69-48 home triumph on Feb. 12, 2011. Washington had 13 points to lead the Bulldog attack. Wingate senior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) contributed 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds for the visitors.
 
On Jan. 9, 2011, Washington and Wollett had 18 points each, leading the Bulldogs past the Pioneers 69-63 in Cuddy Arena. Washington was a perfect five-for-five from the field on the afternoon, while also converting eight-of-eight free throws. Wollett knocked down three-of-five shots from three-point range, while also collecting five rebounds and three assists. Gunn had 20 points and eight rebounds.
 
Both teams will look to get back on the winning track Saturday. On Wednesday night, Catawba defeated Wingate 66-59 in Cuddy Arena. Rutledge led the hosts with 10 points. She added eight rebounds as the Bulldogs won the battle of the boards 43-38. The Wingate bench outscored the Catawba substitutes 29-10. Tusculum junior guard Kendal Baxter set a SAC record with 11 three-pointers in the Pioneers’ 82-73 road loss to Lincoln Memorial Wednesday night at Tex Turner Arena.
 
Wingate sophomore guard Nikki Burton (Charlotte, N.C.) leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 15.0 points per game. Burton tops the Wingate charts with her 43 steals and 14 blocked shots. Washington contributes 10.9 points per game, while sophomore guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) adds 10.6 points per game. Williams (11 three-pointers made) and Washington (10) lead Wingate’s long-range shooters.
 
Baxter leads the Pioneers with her 15.9 points per game. She is fifth on the SAC scoring charts. Baxter leads the league in free throw percentage (92.5) and three-point field goals made (38). Senior forward Staci Hicks shares the SAC lead in field goal percentage (64.6). Wingate’s Burton leads the league in steals.
 
Wingate leads the series between the two teams 20-8. Both head coaches led their teams to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in their first seasons at their respective schools. Wingate head coach Barbara Nelson (84-47 in five seasons) took the Bulldogs to the 2008 Elite Eight. Tusculum head coach Adell Harris (51-23 in three seasons) guided the Pioneers to the 2010 Elite Eight.
 
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.