Box Score Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) tallied 15 points, passing the 1000-point plateau for her career and leading the Bulldogs to a 61-39 NCAA Division II women's basketball victory over UNC Pembroke Monday night in Cuddy Arena. The contest was the season opener for both teams.
 
Williams has 1012 points for her Bulldog career. She led three Wingate players in double figures. Sophomore forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) notched 10 points off the Bulldog bench.
 
UNC Pembroke junior forward Kierra Haney (Tabor City, N.C.) had nine points to lead the visiting Braves. Junior forward Jazmine Kemp (Elizabethtown, N.C.) had six points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
Wingate led 23-21 at intermission, despite shooting a frigid 23.5 percent in the first half (eight-of-34). The Braves didn't fare much better, as the Peach Belt Conference visitors hit eight-of-24 first half field goals for 33.3 percent.
 
The Bulldogs did not trail after halftime, as the South Atlantic Conference members opened the second stanza on an 22-8 run to take a 45-29 lead on a jumper by junior guard Jasmine DeBerry (Charlotte, N.C.) with 8:05 to play. The Braves would get no closer than 14 points down the stretch; the final margin was the Bulldogs' largest lead of the evening.
 
The two teams traded shooting roles in the second half, as Wingate hit 42.9 percent (15-of-35) from the floor after halftime. UNC Pembroke managed only 27.3 percent (six-of-22) shooting in the second stanza. The Bulldogs made five of their six three-point field goals in the second half.
 
Wingate outrebounded UNC Pembroke by a 48-32 margin. Sophomore point guard Amber Neely (Charlotte, N.C.) had nine rebounds (all defensive), filling out her statistics ledger with five points, five assists and three steals. Williams supplemented her scoring with seven rebounds and a team-best four steals.
 
The Bulldogs had 24 points in the paint, compared to eight inside points for the Braves. UNC Pembroke made 26 turnovers, which Wingate converted into 17 points. The Bulldogs had 13 fast-break points, compared to zero for the Braves. Wingate's bench outscored the UNC Pembroke reserves by a slim 22-16 margin.
 
Wingate returns to action Saturday, visiting Lander for a 1:30 p.m. contest. The Bulldogs open SAC play next Wednesday (Nov. 20), entertaining Catawba for a 6 p.m. encounter.  UNC Pembroke hosts Coker Thursday at 6 p.m.