Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women's basketball team (21-5 overall, 17-5 SAC) begins play in the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament Wednesday, hosting Newberry College (15-11 overall, 11-11 SAC) in first-round action. The contest begins at 7 p.m. in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court.
 
"This time of year is exciting," Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. "Tournament time is what we work for all season. Newberry has a great inside outside scoring combination, which makes them difficult to defend. We will need tremendous effort to limit their touches, keep them off the glass and off the free throw line."
 
The two teams split their regular season meetings. One week ago (Feb. 26), WU freshman guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) had 14 points to lead three players in double digits as the Bulldogs earned a 65-54 triumph over Newberry in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Wolves 50-31.
 
Wingate senior forward Kayla Harris (Raleigh, N.C.) posted her SAC-best 12th double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Bulldog senior guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) had 12 points and nine boards, while sophomore forward Sharee Boyd (Charlotte, N.C.) had nine points, eight rebounds and a game-high four steals.
 
For Newberry, junior center Haylee Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia) had 17 points and 18 rebounds. She filled out her statistics ledger with three assists and three blocks. Newberry senior guard/forward Tasia Holdorf (Anchorage, Alaska) had 15 points, while junior guard Kaitlynn Pacholke (Tampa, Fla.) contributed 12 points, three assists and two steals.
 
On Feb. 5, Newberry concluded the game with an 18-9 run to take a 66-55 victory over number 24 Wingate in Eleazer Arena. Holdorf led all scorers with 23, while Lepaio had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the hosts. Wolves senior guard/forward Ellie Gleeson (Albury, New South Wales, Australia) added 11 points, including a seven-of-eight performance from the charity stripe.
 
For Wingate, Williams had 17 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Amber Neely (Charlotte, N.C.) had 12 points, while sophomore forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) contributed 11 points. McGee tied the game for the eighth (and final) time on an inside hoop with 4:34 to go, knotting the score at 48-48. The Bulldogs made only three field goals the rest of the way (including two in the last 37 seconds) as the Wolves pulled away.
 
Harris leads Wingate in scoring (16.8), rebounding (9.3), field goal percentage (50.3) and double-doubles (13). On the SAC statistical charts, she is third in rebounding, fourth in field goal percentage and fifth in scoring. Harris has hit 20 or more points eight times, with seven of those performances coming against league opponents. Wingate is 7-1 overall when Harris hits 20-plus points.
 
Williams joined Wingate's 1000-point club in the Bulldogs' first game this season. She averages 15.6 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game. Williams has four double-doubles this year, leading Wingate to a victory in three of the four contests. She has tallied 20 or more points five times. Wingate is 4-1 overall when Williams hits 20-plus points.
 
Wingate has a 12-2 overall record at home this season. "I am proud of the girls for earning the right to play at home," Hancock says. "However, it is a new season where each day earns you another day to play. We are looking forward to a battle on Wednesday."
 
Lepaio leads the SAC in scoring with her 19.2 points per game. She dropped a career-high 40 points on Queens University of Charlotte Wednesday, Feb. 19. One of six Australians on the Newberry roster, Lepaio is second in the league in rebounding (10.7 rebounds per game). Holdorf contributes 15.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, both second among Newberry's active players.
 
THIS AND THAT: The SAC final four is slated for Saturday and Sunday (March 8-9) in Greenville, S.C. Furman University hosts the final four in Timmons Arena. The Wingate-Newberry winner will play the Lincoln Memorial-Anderson winner Saturday at 8 p.m.
 
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.
 
2014 Food Lion SAC Women's Basketball Championship
 
Quarterfinals – March 5
No. 8 Coker at No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Newberry at No. 2 Wingate, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Anderson at No. 3 Lincoln Memorial, 6 p.m.
No. 5 Catawba at No. 4 Carson-Newman, 6 p.m.
 
Semifinals – March 8
No. 1/No. 8 vs. No. 4/No. 5, 5:30 p.m.
No. 2/No. 7 vs. No. 3/No. 6, 8 p.m.
 
Final – March 9
Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner, 4 p.m.