Women's Basketball | 2/3/2015 12:34:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women's basketball team begins a big week Wednesday, welcoming Newberry College to town for a 6 p.m. South Atlantic Conference contest in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. On Saturday, WU graduate student forward Chantal Dunbar (Virginia Beach, Va.) matched her career-high with 21 points and notched her 21st career double-double with a game-high 15 rebounds as the Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 72-68 league victory over Mars Hill.
 
Winners of 11 in a row (and 13 straight conference games), the WU Bulldogs are 15-6 overall and 13-1 in the SAC. On Saturday, Wingate sophomore guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) supported Dunbar's efforts by adding 15 points on the strength of four-of-seven shooting from three-point land. Bulldog junior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) had 12 points off the bench as the Wingate reserves outscored the Mars Hill substitutes 19-10.
 
Wingate and Newberry split two regular season games during the 2013-14 season; the Bulldogs defeated the Wolves in the first round of the 2014 SAC tournament. The last time the two teams met in Wingate, the Bulldogs earned a 78-52 triumph in the aforementioned tourney game on March 5. Four players hit double figures, led by forward Kayla Harris ('15, Raleigh, N.C.) and her 23 points and 10 rebounds.
 
On Feb. 26, 2014, the Bulldogs claimed a 65-54 decision in Cuddy Arena. Tricoli had 14 points to lead three players in double digits. For Newberry, senior center Haylee Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia) had 17 points and 18 rebounds. Wingate outrebounded Newberry 50-31.
 
On Feb. 5, 2015, Newberry concluded the game with a 18-9 run to take a 66-55 victory over number 24 Wingate in Eleazer Arena. Haylee Lepaio had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the hosts. For Wingate, guard Janitsha Williams ('14, Statesville, N.C.) scored in double figures for the 25th consecutive game with a team-best 17 points. The two-time All-SAC performer pulled down eight rebounds.
 
Dunbar averaged 18.5 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game as Wingate won two SAC contests last week. On Wednesday, Dunbar had 16 points and eight rebounds as Wingate earned a 71-44 SAC road triumph at Coker. On the season, Dunbar tops the Wingate charts with 11.8 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game.
 
In SAC play, Dunbar steps up her game with 12.7 points per game and 10.9 rebounds per game. During Wingate's current 11-game winning streak, she is contributing team-best totals of 13.8 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game. Dunbar is one of three active Bulldogs who contribute double-figure scoring averages.
 
McGee posts 11.0 points per game, while Tricoli adds 10.3 points per game. Wingate graduate student forward Andrea Bertrand (Midlothian, Va.) is knocking on the door, contributing 9.6 points per game. She is second on the WU rebounding charts with her 5.3 rebounds per game. In SAC play, Bertrand is averaging 10.3 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game.
 
Newberry junior guard/forward Samantha Creed (Montmorency, Victoria, Australia) leads the Wolves (13-7 overall, 9-5 SAC) with her 18.3 points per game. Haylee Lepaio is next with 13.8 points per game and a team-best 9.5 rebounds per game. Dunbar and Lepaio are one-two on the SAC rebounding charts. Wayne State (Mich.) senior center Shareta Brown leads the nation with her 14.6 rebounds per game.
 
Newberry and Wingate are one-two on the SAC scoring defense list. Newberry leads the way, allowing only 58.9 points per game. Wingate is next with its 60.8 points per game allowed. During its current 11-game winning streak, Wingate is averaging 70.8 points per game while surrendering only 55.5 points per game.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, ranked as the 10th "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 eight years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 72 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 72 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 81 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.