Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University graduate student forward Chantal Dunbar (Virginia Beach, Va.) posted her 22nd career double-double with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, helping the first-place Bulldogs to a 72-68 South Atlantic Conference triumph over Coker College Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. Wingate is 19-7 overall and 17-2 in the SAC. The Bulldogs have won 14 of their last 15 contests. Coker is 10-15 overall and 6-13 in the SAC.
 
Bulldog graduate student forward Andrea Bertrand (Midlothian, Va.) led all scorers with 13 points as Wingate remains in a first-place tie on top of the SAC standings with Anderson (20-3 overall, 17-2 SAC). Sophomore guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) contributed 10 points for the hosts.
 
For Coker, senior guard Tanesha Stenson (Nashville, Tenn.) and senior forward/center Priscilla Fenty (Hollywood, Fla.) led the way with 12 points each. Cobra senior forward Kelley Godbout (Matthews, N.C.) had nine markers on the strength of a game-high three three-point field goals. The visiting Cobras committed 20 turnovers which the 'Dogs converted into 17 points. Wingate had 12 miscues, but Coker could manage only seven points from the dozen WU mistakes.
 
Two Fenty free throws gave Coker its biggest lead at 13-5 five minutes into the first half. Fenty followed her own miss at the 11:14 mark, making the score 18-11 Cobras. The Bulldogs responded with an 11-0 run to take the lead for good. A steal and lay-up by redshirt senior point guard Brittany Hill (Mechanicsville, Va.) concluded the push and gave Wingate a 22-18 edge with 5:37 to play before halftime.
 
After Fenty's put-back, Wingate concluded the first half with a 20-4 explosion to take a 31-22 lead to the halftime locker room. Bulldog junior center Alysia Hudson (Jacksonville, N.C.) scored six points in the final 4:33 of the first frame, giving her the team scoring lead entering intermission. Seven players contributed to the 20-4 flurry over the last 11 minutes of the half.
 
Bertrand scored the first basket of the second stanza to give the hosts a 33-22 lead. The 11-point bulge equaled the Bulldogs' largest lead of the evening. Coker would not go quietly into the night, cutting the deficit to 37-31 on a short jumper by Stenson with 14:44 to play. A Fenty follow of a Stenson miss made the score 42-39 Wingate with 8:36 remaining.
 
Bertrand ended a five-minute scoring drought for Wingate, taking a feed from sophomore guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) to nudge the Bulldog lead to 44-39 at the 6:54 plateau. Tomlinson hit a long jumper and junior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) hit a three-pointer to make the score 49-39 two minutes later and conclude a 7-0 run.
 
Coker senior guard Hailey Yohn (Durham, N.C.) hit two free throws and nailed a triple on a feed from senior guard Lakeria Crowder (Memphis, Tenn.) to trim the deficit to 49-44 at the 3:44 mark. Tricoli and Godbout traded three-point field goals to make the score 52-47 Bulldogs with 1:51 left in regulation.
 
The Cobras would get no closer, as the Bulldogs hit eight-of-eight free throws in the final 75 seconds to seal the deal. Wingate hit 82.8 percent of its charity tosses Wednesday (24-of-29). Coker shot only seven free throws, making five (71.4 percent).
 
Wingate won the rebounding battle 39-36 with Bertrand pulling down five boards. Fenty, Stenson and junior forward Terrika Foster (Spartanburg, S.C.) had five rebounds each for Coker. Thanks to McGee (seven points) and Hudson (six points), the Bulldog bench outscored the Cobra reserves 20-9. Coker scored 26 points in the paint, compared to 20 for Wingate.
 
The Bulldogs hit the road this weekend, visiting Lincoln Memorial Saturday at 2 p.m. Wingate travels to Newberry Wednesday, Feb. 25 for a 6 p.m. contest. The Bulldogs conclude the regular season Saturday, Feb. 28, hosting Brevard for a 2 p.m. Senior Day game. Coker stays in South Carolina Saturday, venturing to Anderson for a 2 p.m. tilt.