Brevard, N.C.----Wingate University freshman guard/forward Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) posted her first intercollegiate double-double with career-highs of 29 points and 11 rebounds, lifting the Bulldogs to a 71-53 South Atlantic Conference triumph over Brevard College Saturday at Boshamer Gymnasium. Witherspoon hit 13-of-20 field goals and three-of-three free throws in Wingate's road victory.
 
Wingate concludes its pre-Christmas schedule 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the SAC. The Brevard Tornados fall to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in the SAC. Wingate returns to the hardwood Wednesday, Dec. 30, hosting Fayetteville State University for a 7 p.m. contest.
 
Bulldog senior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) added 11 points for the visitors, as Wingate hit 52.5 percent of its field goals Saturday (32-of-61). The 52.5 percent shooting accuracy was Wingate's second-best performance of the young 2015-16 season. The Bulldogs converted 53.1 percent of their shots (34-of-64) in an 84-34 November SAC road win at Lenoir-Rhyne.
 
For Brevard, senior guard Nicole Graham (Charlotte, N.C.) had a career-high (tying) 13 points. Graham scored three of Brevard's nine three-point field goals as she was the only BC player to manage double-figure points Saturday. The Tornados hit a season-low 25.4 percent from the floor (18-of-71) against the Bulldogs.
 
"The win today will certainly make the holidays more enjoyable," Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock says. "We had a very efficient game with several players contributing. Danasia had a terrific game on both ends of the floor. Junior guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) had an outstanding game as well. She got the ball inside where Danasia could be effective."
 
Witherspoon started a 21-0 run (spanning both the first and second quarters) with back-to-back baskets, giving the Bulldogs an 8-6 lead with 6:37 left in the opening frame. The flurry turned a two-point deficit into a 25-6 advantage. Five players scored during the run, led by Witherspoon with six and sophomore center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) with five.
 
Tomlinson concluded the three-touchdown run with a fast-break basket to open the second stanza (9:43), making the score 25-6 Wingate. Brevard didn't quit, as junior forward Lynsey Crisp (Robbinsville, N.C.) hit a triple to cut the deficit to 33-22 with 2:52 left. The Bulldogs led 36-23 at intermission.
 
A three-point field goal by BC senior guard Hadara Bannister (High Point, N.C.) cut Wingate's lead to 38-29 with 8:57 to go in the third quarter. The Bulldogs responded with a 10-0 run to push their lead to 48-29 on a Witherspoon bucket at the 5:57 mark. The Tornados scored the last six points of third quarter to cut the deficit to 55-45 entering the final 10 minutes of play.
 
Graham scored the first hoop of the fourth quarter (9:56) to conclude an 8-0 run and cut the BC deficit to 55-47. The Tornados would get no closer, as Witherspoon scored back-to-back baskets (8:20, 7:49) to give the Bulldogs a 61-47 advantage. WU freshman guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) started the 6-0 flurry with a jumper at the 8:55 plateau.
 
Wingate outrebounded Brevard 53-34. McGee and Miscenko supported Witherspoon's 11-rebound afternoon with eight boards each. BC senior forward Shelby Wolfe (Pittsboro, N.C.) had nine rebounds for the hosts. The Bulldogs outscored the Tornados 54-10 on points in the paint.
 
"As a team, I was pleased with the work on the boards," Hancock says. "Hopefully, we can use this to gain momentum when we come back from the break."
 
After the home contest with Fayetteville State, Wingate will visit Shaw University Saturday, Jan. 2 for a 2 p.m. afternoon matinee. The contest with the SU Bears will conclude the Bulldogs' non-conference schedule. Wingate returns to SAC play Wednesday, Jan. 6 when the Bulldogs host Coker for a 6 p.m. league encounter.