Greeneville, Tenn.----Wingate University junior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) posted a career-high 30 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 79-72 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball triumph over Tusculum College Saturday afternoon in Pioneer Arena. Wingate is 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the SAC, while Tusculum is 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the SAC.

McGee recorded a double-double, as she matched a career-high with her second consecutive 12-rebound performance. McGee hit 11-of-21 field goals and seven-of-10 free throws. She hit one three-point field goal. Wingate senior guard Kelli Bonner (Yadkinville, N.C.) had 13 points, three assists and two steals. Bonner hit three-of-seven buckets from beyond the three-point line.

For Tusculum, senior forward Rainey Story (Greeneville, Tenn.) had 21 points and six rebounds. TC sophomore guard Maelyn Cutshaw (Greeneville, Tenn.) added 11 points and a team-best five assists. Junior forward Kristen McMillion (Fayetteville, N.C.) contributed seven points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.

"Morgan had a huge game today," Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock says. "She played a great offensive game. Morgan gave an unbelievable effort in the first half. She was a big force offensively and defensively. Morgan got some big rebounds for us."

Wingate never trailed, building a 21-point lead in the first half. A McGee jumper gave Wingate a 43-22 advantage with 2:57 left in the first half. Tusculum scored the final seven points of the opening frame to cut the 21-point deficit to 43-29 at intermission. Story had four of the seven points, while senior guard Blakeley Burleson (Piney Flats, Tenn.) converted an old-fashioned three-point play to conclude the first half scoring.

A Bonner lay-up nudged Wingate's lead to 48-29 with two minutes gone in the second half. Tusculum made a 13-2 run to make the score 50-42 Wingate with 12:36 remaining in the contest. Four different players scored in the flurry, with Story hitting five points.

The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 56-43 on two Bonner free throws one minute later. Two Cutshaw charity tosses pulled the Pioneers within four at 61-57 with 7:36 left in regulation. The hosts would get no closer, as five different Wingate players scored points in the final seven minutes to keep Tusculum at bay.

Wingate redshirt senior guard Brittany Hill (Mechanicsville, Va.) had six points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in 34 minutes. Her playing time was second only to Bonner's 36 minutes. Sophomore guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) added five assists as Wingate recorded 21 helpers on 27 made baskets.

"Alex made some really big plays for us today," Hancock says. "It is fantastic to get a win on the road. Every SAC game is huge. Hopefully, we can use this victory…and build some momentum for next week."

Wingate visits Lenoir-Rhyne Tuesday for a 4 p.m. afternoon matinee (Bulldog fans please note starting time). Tusculum visits Brevard the same day for a 6 p.m. contest.

Newspaper Box Score
Wingate vs Tusculum
11/22/14 2 p.m. at Greeneville, Tenn.

WINGATE WOMEN 79, TUSCULUM 72
WINGATE (1-3 overall, 1-1 SAC)
McGee, Morgan 11-21 7-10 30; Bonner, Kelli 4-10 2-2 13; Dunbar, Chantal 3-9 3-4 9; Hill, Brittany 1-8 3-4 6; Tricoli, Shelby 2-7 0-0 5; Bertrand, Andrea 1-3 3-6 5; Hudson, Alysia 2-3 0-0 4; Boston, Brooklyn 2-2 0-2 4; Tomlinson, Alex 1-6 1-2 3; DeBerry, Jasmine 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-69 19-30 79.
TUSCULUM (0-4 overall, 0-2 SAC)
Story, Rainey 7-11 7-9 21; Cutshaw, Maelyn 4-9 2-2 11; Hairston, Jessica 2-3 5-8 9; Burleson, Blakeley 2-5 2-3 7; Atwell, Kristen 3-6 1-2 7; McMillion, Kristen 3-9 1-3 7; Whitener, Shynese 3-12 0-0 6; Mitchell, Brianna 2-5 0-0 4; Malone, Madison 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-60 18-27 72.
Wingate.......................   43   36  -   79
Tusculum......................   29   43  -   72
3-point goals--Wingate 6-17 (Bonner, Kelli 3-7; Hill, Brittany 1-3; McGee, Morgan 1-3; Tricoli, Shelby 1-3; Tomlinson, Alex 0-1), Tusculum 2-10 (Burleson, Blakeley 1-3; Cutshaw, Maelyn 1-2; Whitener, Shynese 0-4; Mitchell, Brianna 0-1). Fouled out--Wingate-Boston, Brooklyn; Bertrand, Andrea, Tusculum-McMillion, Kristen. Rebounds--Wingate 44 (McGee, Morgan 12), Tusculum 42 (McMillion, Kristen 11). Assists--Wingate 21 (Hill, Brittany 6), Tusculum 15 (Whitener, Shynese 5; Cutshaw, Maelyn 5). Total fouls--Wingate 25, Tusculum 23. Technical fouls--Wingate-None, Tusculum-Atwell, Kristen. A-298