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Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University seniors Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) and Kayla Harris (Raleigh, N.C.) posted double-doubles as the Bulldogs shot 55.6 percent in the second half en route to a 65-62 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over Brevard College Saturday in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. Williams had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Harris posted 10 points and a game-high 15 boards as Wingate celebrated Alumni Day with a victory.
 
With their eighth home triumph in nine 2013-14 tries, Wingate improves to 13-3 overall and 9-3 in the SAC. The Bulldogs gain a tie for first place in the league standings, as Newberry earned an 83-75 victory at previous front-runner Carson-Newman (12-6 overall, 9-3 SAC) Saturday. Brevard falls to 5-11 overall and 4-8 in the SAC.
 
"This league is incredibly tough," Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. "There is so much balance, never an easy game. We are happy to get the win on such an important day for our program. Our players wanted to win for the alumni in attendance."
 
Bulldog sophomore point guard Amber Neely (Charlotte, N.C.) had 10 points, four assists, four steals and two rebounds. She had seven points and three assists after intermission, as Wingate rallied from a 30-24 halftime deficit. The home-standing Bulldogs hit 15-of-27 field goals (55.6 percent) in the second stanza.
 
Three reserves scored 44 of Brevard's 62 points. Sophomore guard Katie Williams (Robbinsville, N.C.) and freshman guard Madison Lenox (Raleigh, N.C.) had 17 points each.
Freshman guard Chelsea Turner (Hickory, N.C.) had 10 points. Williams, Lenox and Turner hit two three-point field goals each as the BC Tornados hit eight-of-15 triples on the evening (53.3 percent).

The visitors hit six-of-10 three-point field goals in the first half, while Wingate was shooting 24.2 percent (eight-of-33) in the first frame. The Bulldogs led 15-4 on two free throws by junior forward Brooklyn Boston (Lenoir, N.C.) at the 9:15 plateau. A jumper by sophomore forward Sharee Boyd (Charlotte, N.C.) gave Wingate a 17-7 edge with 7:38 to play. Wingate hit only two field goals the rest of the first half as Brevard gained its halftime lead.
 
The BC Tornados finished the half on a 23-7 run. Brevard hit five of its six first-half three-point field goals during this span. Hiatt's triple (3:04) tied the game at 22-22; a Lenox lay-up at the 2:36 mark put the visitors up 24-22. Lenox led all scorers with 12 first-half points.
 
Wingate started the second half with a 16-2 explosion. Five different Bulldogs scored in the run with Harris and sophomore forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) notching four points each. A Harris jumper on a feed from junior guard Jasmine DeBerry (Charlotte, N.C.) completed the run, making the score 40-32 Bulldogs with 15:54 remaining.
 
A triple by BC junior forward Taylor Hiatt (Mount Airy, N.C.) cut the Tornado deficit to 41-38 two minutes later. The Bulldogs nudged the margin back to 10 when freshman guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) hit three free throws (9:05) to give Wingate a 55-45 lead.
 
A free throw by sophomore guard Hadara Bannister (High Point, N.C.) brought the visitors within a possession at 60-57 (3:15). Neely and Katie Williams traded baskets, then Lenox made a steal. Hiatt missed a three-point field goal (1:18). Lenox and Harris traded one free throw each, giving Wingate a 63-60 edge with 23 seconds to play.
 
Katie Williams missed a floater on the other end, but Turner got the offensive rebound and was fouled. She made both free throws with seven seconds left to pull the Tornados within one point at 63-62. The Tornados fouled Janitsha Williams immediately; Wingate's All-SAC guard made both charity tosses to settle the final margin (0:06). Brevard's desperation three-point field goal attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.
 
Wingate outrebounded Brevard 45-25 with a 17-4 edge in offensive rebounds. Boston had six rebounds off the Bulldog bench. Hiatt led the visitors with nine rebounds. Wingate held healthy advantages in points in the paint (30-16) and second-chance points (12-2). Brevard scored 20 points off 23 Wingate turnovers. The Bulldogs had 10 points from 19 Tornado miscues.

"Brevard played extremely well and forced us into playing its type game," Hancock says. "We had a tremendous rebounding effort which made a huge difference. We are glad to win and move on to the next challenge."