Wingate, N.C.----Newberry College sprinted to a 49-17 halftime lead and never looked back, collecting a 67-50 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over Wingate University Tuesday afternoon in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. The Wolves hit 11-of-16 three-point field goals in the first half (68.8 percent).
 
With the win, Newberry improves to 4-4 overall and 3-0 in the SAC. Wingate slips to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the SAC. The WU Bulldogs host Tusculum College Sunday at 2 p.m. Newberry entertains Anderson Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
For Newberry, sophomore point guard Nicola Handreck (Heywood, Vic, Australia) had 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Redshirt senior guard/forward Samantha Creed (Melbourne, Australia) posted 13 points, while junior forward/guard Jaya Schultz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) and sophomore guard Samara Hill (Frankston, Australia) recorded 11 points each.
 
Wingate freshman guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) led the Bulldogs with 10 points and four steals. Bulldog junior forward Kristina Rumplasch (Mount Airy, N.C.) and freshman guard Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) contributed eight points each. The hosts hit only six-of-20 field goals (30 percent) in the pivotal first half.
 
In the first quarter, Newberry hit five-of-seven three-point field goals (71.4 percent) on the way to a 25-9 margin. Both Handreck and redshirt senior guard Emily Perry (Nambour, Australia) hit two-of-three triples in the first frame. A Handreck three-pointer put the visitors up 23-7 with 2:36 left in the opening period.
 
Hill was the big gun in the second quarter, as the 5-8 shooting guard nailed three-of-three from downtown in the second stanza. Fittingly, Hill concluded the second quarter with a triple to make the score 49-17 at intermission. Handreck led both teams with her 12 first-half points. Hill and Creed supported the cause with 11 points and 10 points, respectively. Rumplasch led Wingate with seven markers.
 
The Bulldogs outscored the Wolves 33-18 after halftime. Wingate cut the deficit to 60-36 after the third quarter. The hosts started the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run to trim the margin to 62-48 on a lay-up by junior guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) with 4:34 remaining.
 
After Newberry hit a free throw on the other end, Bulldog freshman guard Taylor Helms (Monroe, N.C.) converted a lay-up (3:37) to make the score 63-50. Wingate would get no closer down the stretch as neither team made a field goal in the final 3:37 of play.
 
Wingate won four of the five specialty statistics categories. The Bulldogs outscored the Wolves 28-22 in the paint. Wingate also held an advantage in points off turnovers (25-19), second-chance points (5-4) and fast-break points (9-8). Thanks to Schultz and Hill combining for 22 points, the Newberry bench outscored the Wingate substitutes 27-20.
 
Newberry hit only 24 percent of its second half field goals (six-of-25) to finish the game shooting 40.7 percent (24-of-59). Wingate concluded the contest shooting at a 36 percent clip (18-of-50). The Wolves outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-33. Newberry senior forward/guard Kirsten Dunsmore (Sydney, Australia) led the way with eight boards. Wingate junior guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) also pulled down eight caroms.