Box Score

Anderson, S.C.----Wingate University senior guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) and senior forward Kayla Harris (Raleigh, N.C.) combined for 35 points and 21 rebounds as the Bulldogs defeated defending South Atlantic Conference champion Anderson University 56-55 at the Abney Athletic Center Wednesday night. Wingate is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SAC. The Bulldogs have won four in a row. Anderson falls to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in the SAC.
 
The reigning SAC Player of the Week, Williams had 20 points and nine rebounds. Harris posted her third double-double of the young season with 15 points and 12 boards. Anderson freshman forward Alexis Dillard (Taylors, S.C.) had 14 points, six blocked shots and five rebounds. Trojan junior guard Sierra Simpson (Simpsonville, S.C.) joined Harris in the double-double club with 13 points and 11 boards.
 
"Winning on the road is so important in this league," Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. "I'm really proud of our defensive effort to hold Anderson to 55 points. It was a total team effort with people stepping up to fill some big shoes…Jasmine DeBerry (Charlotte, N.C.), Sharee Boyd (Charlotte, N.C.) and Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) were crucial. It's great to find different ways to win."

A Harris jumper in the paint gave the Bulldogs a 20-9 lead with 9:45 to go in the first half. The 11-point bulge was Wingate's largest lead of the night. A Harris triple made the score 26-16 Bulldogs with six minutes remaining in the opening frame.
 
Anderson rallied, as Dillard hit a hoop and freshman guard Heather Jankowy (Walhalla, S.C.) nailed a triple to cut the deficit to 26-21 two minutes later. Boyd and DeBerry hit back-to-back lay-ups to make the score 30-21 Wingate at the two-minute mark. The Bulldogs led 30-25 at intermission.
 
Wingate never trailed in the second half. A Harris jumper put the visitors up 47-40 with six minutes left in the contest. Jankowy made another huge three-point field goal, pulling the hosts within 52-51 at the 1:26 mark. Williams missed a three, DeBerry got the rebound and fed Boyd, who hit a jumper to make the score 54-51 with 34 seconds remaining.
 
Simpson hit a put-back to make the score 54-53 Wingate with 11 seconds left. The Trojans fouled Williams two seconds later; the All-SAC guard hit both ends of the one-and-one to give the visitors a 56-53 advantage. Anderson sophomore forward Jennifer Monroe (Clemson, S.C.) converted a follow shot with two seconds left to settle the final score.
 
Wingate shot 42.1 percent from the floor (24-of-57), while Anderson managed only 30.8 percent shooting (20-of-65) on its home hardwood. The Bulldogs won the battle of the boards 45-35 as Boyd pulled down seven rebounds to supplement Harris and Williams' efforts. Both teams had 15 offensive rebounds, with Wingate grabbing 30 defensive boards.
 
The Bulldogs continue their two-game SAC road swing with a 2 p.m. afternoon matinee at Mars Hill Saturday. Anderson will look to stop a two-game SAC losing streak with a home contest against Newberry Saturday at 2 p.m.