BOX SCORE

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore guard Nikki Burton (Charlotte, N.C.) and junior guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) combined for 28 points to help the Bulldogs claim a 64-58 women’s basketball victory over Anderson (S.C.) University Wednesday night in the first round of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament. The Wingate bench outscored the Anderson reserves 29-11.

Burton had 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists for Wingate (20-7 overall). Wollett hit three-of-three from three-point land, filling out her statistics ledger with 12 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals. Anderson junior guard Alissa Diaz (Coral Springs, Fla.) led the Trojans with 19 points. Trojan junior center Tilde Ahlin (Södertälje, Sweden) added 18 points on the strength of four three-pointers. Anderson completes the 2011-12 season 10-18 overall.

Wollett helped the Wingate bench earn its 18-point advantage. Bulldog sophomore forward Chantal Dunbar (Norfolk, Va.) contributed nine points and four rebounds in a reserve role. The Bulldogs won five-of-five specialty statistic categories Wednesday: points in the paint (30-14), points off turnovers (15-10), second-chance points (12-2), fast-break points (10-4) and bench points (29-11).

Burton and Wollett scored nine and eight points, respectively, as Wingate took a 35-22 lead to the halftime locker room. A Wollett triple gave Wingate a 14-11 lead with 13:20 to play in the first half. The Bulldogs would keep the lead the rest of the way. A three-pointer by freshman guard Kelli Bonner (Yadkinville, N.C.) put the Bulldogs up 25-15 at the 6:37 mark.

A lay-up by senior guard Tiffany Brown (Cartersville, Ga.) on a feed from Burton concluded the first-half scoring and gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the first frame. Ahlin led the Trojans with her 10 first-half markers. Only four Anderson players scored in the opening stanza. The Wingate bench built an 18-0 advantage in the first 20 minutes.

Two free throws by senior forward Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) gave Wingate the 39-26 advantage with 16:43 remaining in the contest. Anderson made a huge push, draining three consecutive three-point field goals to cut the deficit to 39-35 on a triple by junior guard Amanda Parris (Summerville, Ga.) at the 14:35 mark.

Parris started and finished the 9-0 flurry with three-point baskets. Wollett ended a four-minute Bulldog field goal drought with a triple at the 13:17 plateau to end the AU run and make the score 42-35 Wingate. The Trojans would get no closer than five points down the stretch.

A Dunbar jumper on an assist from sophomore guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) gave the Bulldogs a 53-39 lead and concluded a 14-4 run for the hosts. The 14-point bulge was Wingate’s largest lead of the evening.

Anderson didn’t quit, cutting the deficit to five in the final minute of play. Ahlin hit a triple with 22 seconds left to make things interesting. The Barry University transfer hit two three-pointers in each half.

Wingate outrebounded Anderson 39-26, led by eight boards from junior forward Tish Logan (Suitland, Md.). The Bulldogs spread the love, as Burton pulled down six caroms and four players grabbed four rebounds each. Anderson junior forward Breonda Shannon (Columbia, S.C.) had eight rebounds to lead the Trojans.

The Bulldogs shot 38.6 percent from the floor (22-of-57), while the Trojans converted on 42 percent of their field goal attempts (21-of-50). Anderson drained seven three-pointers in 19 tries (36.8 percent), while Wingate converted four-of-nine triples (44.4 percent).

Wingate’s 20 victories give the Bulldogs their 22nd 20-plus win season in the program’s 34-year senior college history. Wingate head coach Barbara Nelson is approaching 100 victories at the Bulldog helm. She is 97-50 in five Wingate seasons. Nelson’s career record is 534-226 overall. She was 437-176 in 21 seasons at Providence Day School in Charlotte.