Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women's basketball team begins a significant home stand Wednesday, entertaining South Atlantic Conference newcomer Queens University of Charlotte in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court (6 p.m. tip-off). The Wingate Bulldogs enter the contest 9-3 overall and 5-3 in the SAC. The Queens Royals are 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the SAC. The Bulldogs will play six of their next eight games at home.
 
"This is a big game for us," Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. "We need to get back on track. Queens is playing really well and coming off a huge win. This league is balanced and any team can win on any given night, which makes winning at home crucial. We have had good practices and are glad to be back in Cuddy."
 
The Bulldogs are 5-1 in the friendly confines of Cuddy Arena this season. Wingate's only home blemish was an 85-81 decision against Catawba on Nov. 20, 2013. Most recently, Wingate defeated visiting Carson-Newman 73-59 on Jan. 4, thanks to a career-high 21 points from freshman guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.). In Hancock's two Wingate seasons, the Bulldogs are 15-6 overall at home.
 
Four Wingate players hit double digits in a tough 75-71 setback at Lincoln Memorial Saturday night. Senior forward Kayla Harris (Raleigh, N.C.) posted her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds, both team highs. Sophomore forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) had 17 points and seven rebounds. Tricoli and senior guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
 
Williams leads Wingate (and ranks sixth in the SAC) with her 15.7 points per game. She scores 17.0 points per game in Cuddy Arena this year. An All-SAC selection last year, Williams has posted double-figure points in 18 consecutive games (dating to last season). Harris posts 15 points per game and a team-best 9.0 rebounds per game. The USC Aiken transfer amps up her efforts in league games, averaging a double-double in SAC play with her 16.8 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game.
 
Wingate leads the SAC in scoring defense (60.8 points per game), field goal percentage defense (34.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.90). The Bulldogs are second on the league charts in rebounding margin (+6.5) and assists (15 per game). The Wednesday night contest will match the league's two best defenses. Queens is second in scoring defense, allowing 61.8 points per game.
 
Queens is led by junior forward Shonice Pettaway (Walstonburg, N.C.), who averages 17.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Nikia Squire (Columbia, S.C.) contributes 13.3 points per game. Squire leads the SAC with her 36 steals.
 
On Saturday, Pettaway posted 16 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals (playing the entire 40 minutes) as the host Royals defeated Carson-Newman 71-62. Squire and freshman guard Micha Cox (Richmond, Va.) had 15 points each, while sophomore forward Lacey Singletary (Burlington, N.C.) had 14 points, six rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Susan Yow is in her first season as the head coach at Queens. Most recently, she spent six seasons at nearby Belmont Abbey College (92-77 overall). Yow has over 35 years of Division I, Division II, WNBA and USA Basketball coaching experience. 
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, ranked as the 8th "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,000 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past seven years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing private colleges in the 2000's with 59 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 59 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 68 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.