Box Score

Belmont, N.C.----Wingate University freshman forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the number 23 Bulldogs to a 56-52 victory at Belmont Abbey Saturday afternoon in the Wheeler Center. Junior guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) added 12 points for the visitors. Wingate (4-1 overall) opens South Atlantic Conference play Wednesday at Catawba.

The Bulldogs utilized a balanced attack Saturday. Senior guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) hit three three-point field goals en route to a nine-point night. Sophomore backcourt mate Kelli Bonner (Yadkinville, N.C.) nailed two triples to finish with eight points. Junior forward Chantal Dunbar (Norfolk, Va.) had seven points, five steals and four rebounds.
 
“It’s great to get another victory on the road,” Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. “Morgan McGee really stepped up with a strong double-double performance. We will enjoy this one and get ready for our first conference game next week.”
 
Hancock believes the Bulldog juniors and seniors have played a big role in Wingate’s 4-1 start. “Our leadership by the upperclassmen has been outstanding down the stretch in the close games,” Hancock says. “Janitsha Williams was once again solid (this afternoon). Chantal Dunbar was instrumental with clutch steals to stretch the lead.”  
 
Wingate converted three-of-four free throws in the final three seconds after the Abbey cut the Bulldogs’ lead to one with 29 seconds left. Trailing 47-41 with 7:20 to play in the game, the Abbey embarked on a 9-3 run to deadlock the game at 50 with 3:48 to go.
 
Abbey junior guard Kelsey Long (Pilot Mountain, N.C.) and junior forward Melisa Foures (Kernersville, N.C.) contributed all nine of the points with Long tallying five in the flurry. Her triple tied the game at 50, while Foures converted a lay-up and two free throws.
 
With the score tied at 50, Wingate got a bucket on its next trip down the floor as McGee sank a tough jumper from the corner to give the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish. After an Abbey foul with 2:27 to play, Dunbar hit the second of two free throws to push the lead to four.
 
After both teams came up empty on their next possessions, Foures cut the deficit to one with 29 ticks left as she grabbed an offensive rebound from a missed lay-up by senior forward Alyx Ingram (Cary, N.C.). Foures’ put-back cut the deficit to 53-52.
 
Both teams took consecutive timeouts. After the final timeout, Wingate eluded the Abbey defense for 18 seconds, working the ball around the backcourt to avoid a foul, until Williams was hacked with three seconds left. She converted both free throws to extend the lead to 55-52.
 
The Crusaders turned the ball over on their next possession. Bulldog senior forward Tish Logan (Suitland, Md.) collected the steal. Logan was fouled with .03 left on the clock. She sank the first and missed the second free throw to seal the win.

McGee hit six-of-13 field goals and six-of-eight free throws en route to her first career double-double. Williams’ 12-point night included a perfect six-of-six performance from the charity stripe. The pre-season All-SAC selection dished out a team-high five assists. Wollett handed out four assists.
 
The two teams combined for 37 turnovers. Wingate shot 37 percent from the floor (17-of-46), while Belmont Abbey made 42.3 percent of its field goals (22-of-52). Long was the only Crusader in double digits with 14 points. Foures matched Wingate’s McGee with 10 rebounds. The Bulldogs hit 17-of-22 free throws (77.3 percent), while the Crusaders attempted only six charity tosses. Belmont Abbey made four free throws for a 66.7 percent night from the foul line.

(Thank you to Belmont Abbey SID Chris Poore for his contributions to this story.)

Newspaper Box Score
Wingate vs Belmont Abbey
11/24/12 2 p.m. at Belmont, N.C.

WINGATE WOMEN 56, BELMONT ABBEY 52
WINGATE (4-1 overall)
McGee, Morgan 6-13 6-8 18; Williams, Janitsha 3-10 6-6 12; Wollett, Sarah 3-10 0-0 9; Bonner, Kelli 2-5 2-2 8; Dunbar, Chantal 3-4 1-2 7; Logan, Tish 0-3 2-4 2; Boston, Brooklyn 0-1 0-0 0; Anderson, Jecia 0-0 0-0 0; Burnick, Sarah 0-0 0-0 0; Thompson, Jakari 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-46 17-22 56.
BELMONT ABBEY (1-1 overall)
Long, Kelsey 6-14 0-0 14; Foures, Melisa 3-8 2-2 8; Hurst, Jaterra 3-3 1-2 7; Fox, Candace 3-5 0-0 7; Midkiff, Morgan 3-8 0-0 6; Ranson, Caitlyn 1-7 1-2 4; Ingram, Alyx 2-5 0-0 4; Simmons, Adrienne 1-1 0-0 2; Owen, McKenzie 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-52 4-6 52.
Wingate.......................   26   30  -   56
Belmont Abbey.................   24   28  -   52
3-point goals--Wingate 5-14 (Wollett, Sarah 3-5; Bonner, Kelli 2-5;
Williams, Janitsha 0-4), Belmont Abbey 4-18 (Long, Kelsey 2-7; Fox, Candace 1-1; Ranson, Caitlyn 1-7; Midkiff, Morgan 0-2; Foures, Melisa 0-1). Fouled out--Wingate-None, Belmont Abbey-None. Rebounds--Wingate 35 (McGee, Morgan 10), Belmont Abbey 28 (Foures, Melisa 10). Assists--Wingate 12 (Williams, Janitsha 5), Belmont Abbey 16 (Foures, Melisa 6). Total fouls--Wingate 6, Belmont Abbey 18. Technical fouls--Wingate-None, Belmont Abbey-None. A-200