Box Score

Mars Hill, N.C.----The Wingate University women's basketball team held Mars Hill University to 19 first-half points and Bulldog seniors Kayla Harris (Raleigh, N.C.) and Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) both posted double-doubles in a 65-53 South Atlantic Conference victory at Stanford Arena Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs are undefeated in four road contests this season (NCAA final box score).

With its fifth consecutive victory, Wingate improves to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the SAC. Mars Hill falls to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the SAC. The Bulldogs take a break for final exams (Dec. 11-17) before returning to the hardwood Thursday, Dec. 19 for a Future Bulldog Day contest against Lees-McRae College. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. in Wingate's Cuddy Arena.
 
Harris led the Bulldogs with 17 points. She added 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Williams had 11 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore forward Sharee Boyd (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed eight points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
 
For Mars Hill, junior guard Ansley Ricker (Greeneville, Tenn.) had 13 points. Redshirt freshman guard Genice Lane (Winston-Salem, N.C.) contributed 11 points off the Lion bench. Mars Hill hit only eight-of-31 field goals (25.8 percent) in the first half.
 
"Again, it's nice to win on the road," Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. "We had a tremendous effort on the glass with Janitsha, Kayla and Sharee each snagging double-figure
boards. We were also able to get some other players extended minutes, which will help us later in the season. This (victory) should build our confidence going into the exam break."
 
Wingate took the lead for good when junior forward Brooklyn Boston (Lenoir, N.C.) hit a lay-up from a feed by junior guard Kelli Bonner (Yadkinville, N.C.) at the 12:14 mark of the first half. Boston's bucket put the visitors up 15-13. On the next possession, Harris hit a fast break hoop to give the Bulldogs a four-point edge.
 
Ricker hit two free throws for the hosts (10:41) to cut the Mars Hill deficit to 17-15. The Lions would get no closer the rest of the way. Bulldog guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) made three free throws at the 9:07 plateau to nudge Wingate's lead to five.
 
Harris, Tricoli and freshman guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) scored one basket each as the Bulldogs finished the half on a 6-0 run. Tomlinson's fast break field goal gave the Bulldogs a 30-19 lead at the halftime buzzer. The 11-point advantage was Wingate's largest lead of the opening half. Harris had eight first-half points to lead all scorers. Tricoli added seven, while Ricker led the Lions with six markers.
 
After converting only 31.4 percent of its first-half field goals (11-of-35), Wingate shot 41.9 percent after intermission (13-of-31). A inside basket by sophomore forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) gave the Bulldogs a 45-25 lead five minutes into the second stanza. Two free throws by Boyd (6:52) put Wingate up 57-33 and gave the visitors their biggest lead of the afternoon.
 
Mars Hill did not go quietly, as the Lions made a game-ending 20-8 run to cut the deficit to 12 in the waning moments. Two free throws by Lane did the honors with 45 seconds left, accounting for the game's final points. Lane had seven points in the flurry, while MHU sophomore forward Cadence Wilmoth (Glade Spring, Va.) chipped in five points.
 
Wingate held a mammoth 58-38 rebounding advantage. Boyd, Williams and Harris combined for 33 rebounds. McGee and sophomore point guard Amber Neely (Charlotte, N.C.) pulled down six rebounds each. Lane had eight boards to lead the Lions.
 
The Bulldogs won four-of-five specialty statistics categories. Wingate outscored Mars Hill 34-18 in the paint, 14-11 off turnovers, 15-9 on second-chance points and 10-8 on fast-break opportunities. Thanks to Lane and Wilmoth (seven points), the Lions' bench outscored the Bulldog reserves 27-17.
 
Mars Hill will take a seven-day vacation before hosting SAC newcomer Coker College Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. The Lions entertain Winston-Salem State University Dec. 19 (6 p.m.) before visiting King (Tenn.) University Dec. 21 (1 p.m.) to complete their pre-Christmas schedule.