Wingate, N.C.----Lander University senior guard Aarika Judge (Augusta, Ga.) had 14 points and 10 rebounds, leading four players in double figures as the Bearcats outlasted Wingate University 69-63 Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. Lander improves to 5-2 overall, while Wingate slips to 3-4 overall. The Bulldogs see a three-game winning streak end in their home opener.
 
Lander junior guard Bre Crum (Tampa, Fla.) filled up her stat sheet with 12 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals. LU freshman forward Breshay Johnson (Hopkins, S.C.) and sophomore guard Ty'hesha Reynolds (Savannah, Ga.) contributed 10 points each for the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) members.
 
For Wingate, junior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) had 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bulldogs. Graduate student forward Andrea Bertrand (Midlothian, Va.) had 11 points. Wingate was zero-for-15 from three-point land Wednesday night. The Bulldog defense held the LU Bearcats 24 points below their season average of 93.3 points per game.
 
A Crum jumper gave the visitors a 56-44 lead with 9:12 to play. The 12-point cushion was Lander's largest of the evening. Two free throws by redshirt senior guard Brittany Hill (Mechanicsville, Va.) cut the deficit to 60-55 with 3:48 remaining. The Bearcats nudged their lead to 64-57 on a Reynolds lay-up with 2:22 left in regulation.
 
The Bulldogs answered with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 64-63 on a McGee jumper with 48 seconds to play. Lander answered in a big way, as junior guard/forward Ashleigh Zandi (Gold Coast, Australia) hit a three-point field goal on a Crum feed with 21 ticks left on the clock. After a Wingate three-point field goal miss, Judge hit two insurance free throws with seven seconds to go, concluding the evening's scoring.
 
The Bearcats made nine-of-22 three-point field goals Wednesday, as Judge topped the charts with four triples in seven attempts. Zandi and Reynolds made two long-distance baskets each, while LU senior guard Kayla West (North Augusta, S.C.) added one trifecta. On the evening, Lander made 44.3 percent of its field goals (27-of-61), while Wingate hit 37.1 percent from the floor (23-of-62). The Bulldogs made 23-of-47 from inside the three-point line (48.9 percent).
 
Wingate outrebounded Lander 42-35, as McGee and graduate student forward Chantal Dunbar (Virginia Beach, Va.) had eight boards each. Judge had 10 rebounds to top the LU charts. The Bulldogs had 12 offensive rebounds, helping the hosts score 11 second-chance points. Wingate outscored Lander in points off turnovers (18-9) and bench points (22-14).
 
Lander led 34-29 at intermission, thanks to eight points each from Reynolds and senior forward Portia McCray (Loganville, Ga.). McGee scored eight first-half points, followed by sophomore guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) and her six first-half markers.
 
Both teams return to conference play Saturday. The defending South Atlantic Conference champion Bulldogs hit the road, visiting Mars Hill for a 2 p.m. contest. Lander opens PBC play with a 1:30 p.m. home encounter with UNC Pembroke.