Hickory, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) had a game-high 13 points, helping the Bulldog bench outscore the Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves 26-7 en route to a 56-49 South Atlantic Conference victory over the L-R Bears in Shuford Memorial Gymnasium. Wingate is 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the SAC. Lenoir-Rhyne falls to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the SAC.
 
 Wingate senior guard Kelli Bonner (Yadkinville, N.C.) added 11 points, while graduate student forward Chantal Dunbar (Virginia Beach, Va.) and redshirt senior guard Brittany Hill (Mechanicsville, Va.) contributed nine points each. Dunbar led both teams with her 12 rebounds, giving her 20 double-digit rebounding games for her WU career.
 
For Lenoir-Rhyne, sophomore forward Brooke Robinson (Vale, N.C.) had 11 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Jazmine Charles (Lexington, N.C.) added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
"This is a great team win," Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock says. "It took tremendous effort and focus from all the players. We had some huge contributions off the bench. Alex and (junior center) Alysia (Hudson) made big plays when we needed baskets. Every road win is important. We will enjoy Thanksgiving a little more with a SAC victory."
 
A Bonner lay-up gave Wingate the lead for good at 41-39 with 6:50 remaining in the contest. The bucket started a personal 6-2 run for the Starmount product, as Bonner concluded her flurry with a driving basket on a Hill assist to make the score 45-41 Bulldogs with four minutes to play.
 
After an inside hoop by L-R junior guard Jordan Hiatt (Mount Airy, N.C.) cut the WU lead to two on the next possession, Dunbar took the (scoring) torch. She hit a lay-up on a Tomlinson feed (2:16) and converted an old-fashioned three-point play on a Bonner dish (1:41) to give Wingate a 50-43 advantage.
 
The Bears weren't finished, as Gust hit a free throw and a triple on separate possessions to cut the L-R deficit to 50-47 with 50 seconds to go. The Bulldogs responded by making six-of-six free throws in the final 22 seconds with Tomlinson hitting four and Hill canning two. Hill's two charity tosses gave the Bulldogs their largest lead at 56-47 with six seconds to play.
 
A harmless lay-up by Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore guard Farrah Young (Hickory, N.C.) concluded the scoring with three seconds left in the contest. The Bears did not help their cause down the stretch, as they committed four turnovers in the final 3:01. On the night, Lenoir-Rhyne made 26 miscues which Wingate converted into 28 points.
 
Wingate led 24-23 at halftime, thanks to 15 bench points. The Bulldogs started the first half shooting two-of-18, but they finished the frame seven-of-18 to shoot 25 percent from the floor (nine-of-36). Bulldog junior center Alysia Hudson (Jacksonville, N.C.) led the Wingate charge with six first-half points; she finished her night with eight markers.
 
A Hiatt three-pointer gave the Bears a 15-9 lead with 9:29 left in the opening frame. The six-point edge matched the hosts' biggest lead of the evening. Charles led Lenoir-Rhyne with six first-half points. Both Young and Robinson had five points each in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Bulldogs shot 37 percent (10-of-27) after intermission to conclude the night hitting 30.2 percent from the floor (19-of-63). Wingate shot 16 more times than Lenoir-Rhyne, as the Bears managed to hit 17-of-47 field goals (36.2 percent).
 
L-R outrebounded Wingate 45-36, thanks to Charles and Robinson and their 19 combined rebounds. Hiatt pulled down six boards. The Bulldogs posted 14 steals with Hill swiping four. Bonner, Dunbar and senior forward Brooklyn Boston (Lenoir, N.C.) had two thefts each.
 
Wingate visits UNC Pembroke Sunday for a 2 p.m. non-conference tilt, concluding a season-opening stretch of six consecutive road games. The Bulldogs host Lander Wednesday, Dec. 3 (7 p.m. tip-off) to open the home portion of their 2014-15 schedule. Lenoir-Rhyne hosts North Georgia Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.