Box Score
Anderson, S.C.----Anderson (S.C.) University senior guard Alissa Diaz (Coral Springs, Fla.) posted a season-high 26 points and the host Trojans outrebounded the Wingate University Bulldogs by 14 rebounds en route to a 62-46 South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball victory Wednesday night at the Abney Athletic Center. Anderson is 12-5 overall and 6-1 in the SAC. Wingate slips to 9-8 overall and 3-4 in the SAC.
 
Anderson moves into a tie for first place in the SAC, thanks to Lenoir-Rhyne’s 72-54 loss at Tusculum. The AU Trojans earn their first modern-day victory over Wingate. The Bulldogs had defeated the Trojans eight consecutive times, dating to the 2001-02 season. Wingate concludes its four-of-five SAC road game stretch with a 6 p.m. league contest at Lincoln Memorial Saturday. Anderson visits Brevard Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip.
 
Trojan sophomore guard Sierra Simpson (Simpsonville, S.C.) supported Diaz’s monster night with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals. AU senior forward Breonda Shannon (Columbia, S.C.) led all players with 11 rebounds as the Trojans recorded 15 second-chance points to zero for the Bulldogs.
 
Wingate freshman forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) and senior guard Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, N.C.) had 13 points each for the visiting Bulldogs. Junior guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) added 11 markers. SAC rebounding leader Chantal Dunbar (Norfolk, Va.) had 10 boards. The Bulldogs were outrebounded for only the third time this season. Anderson corralled 42 rebounds to 28 Wingate caroms.
 
Anderson bolted to a 25-15 lead on a jumper by senior center Tilde Ahlin (Södertälje, Sweden) with 8:12 to play in the first frame. Wingate answered with a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to 28-25 on a Wollett lay-up at the 3:58 mark. Wollett had six of the Bulldogs’ 10 points during the flurry.
 
The Trojans finished the opening stanza on an 11-2 push to take a 39-27 lead to the halftime locker room. Diaz and Simpson had four points each, while sophomore guard Lesley Woods (Raleigh, N.C.) hit a triple during the final 3:33 of the first half. Wingate’s only basket after the Wollett lay-in was a McGee inside hoop at the 2:22 plateau.
 
In the second half, a traditional three-point play by McGee helped Wingate pull within seven (45-38) at the 12-minute mark. The Bulldogs would get no closer down the stretch. A Diaz fast-break bucket put the Trojans up 61-43 with 4:14 left. The 18-point bulge was Anderson’s biggest lead of the evening.
 
The two teams combined for only 42 second-half points after a 66-point first frame. Anderson hit 42.6 percent from the floor (26-of-61), while Wingate hit 36 percent of its field goals (18-of-50). Both teams made three trifectas; the Bulldogs hit three-of-13 three-pointers; Anderson managed only three-of-21 shooting from downtown.