Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) had game-high honors with 13 points, boosting the Bulldogs to a 50-44 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball triumph over Queens University of Charlotte Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. First-place Wingate is 17-7 overall and 15-2 in the SAC, while Queens is 5-17 overall and 3-14 in the SAC.
 
Wingate shot a season-low 28 percent from the floor Wednesday (14-of-50), including a frigid 22.6 percent in the first half (seven-of-31). The Bulldogs won the game on the charity stripe, hitting 20-of-32 free throws (62.5 percent). The visiting Royals made four more field goals (18), but converted only seven-of-12 free throws (58.3 percent).
 
Wingate graduate student forward Andrea Bertrand (Midlothian, Va.) had 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds as the Bulldogs edged the Royals 36-35 on the boards. Bulldog redshirt senior point guard Brittany Hill (Mechanicsville, Va.) had eight points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals in a team-high 36 minutes played.
 
For Queens, junior guards Erin Brundage (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Karleasha Thompson (Stockton, Calif.) had eight points each. Thompson matched Hill with four assists. Queens senior guard/forward Abby Pettit (Raleigh, N.C.) had seven points and a game-high nine rebounds. The Royals committed 24 turnovers which the Bulldogs converted into 25 points. Queens scored only 10 points off 15 Wingate mistakes.

"Queens played extremely well," Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock says.  "Tonight was a tough night for us. I am proud of our effort on a night where we couldn't seem to get into a rhythm. It is a good win. We will move on and get ready for Carson-Newman on Saturday."

The second half featured eight tie scores and five lead changes. A Brundage lay-up tied the game for the 11th (and final) time at 43-43 with 4:51 to play. Bertrand hit two free throws on the ensuing trip down court, making the score 45-43 at the 4:24 mark and starting a game-finishing 7-1 run for the hosts.
 
Wingate shot 36.8 percent after intermission (seven-of-19), including two-of-three from downtown (66.7 percent). In the game's final four-plus minutes, Queens was zero-for-four from the floor and one-for-four from the foul line. Bertrand, sophomore guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) and Hill made two-of-two free throws each in the waning moments to help the Bulldogs keep the Royals at bay.
 
Both Wingate and Queens host Play 4Kay games Saturday. The Bulldogs entertain Carson-Newman at 2 p.m., while the Royals welcome Mars Hill at the same time. Wingate hosts Coker Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.