Anderson, S.C.----Anderson University won the battle of the number one and number two teams in the South Atlantic Conference Saturday afternoon, taking a 68-57 victory over visiting Wingate University at the Abney Athletic Center. The AU Trojans snap the Bulldogs' 12-game winning streak, improving to 17-3 overall and 14-2 in the SAC and tying Wingate for first place in the SAC standings. Wingate is 16-7 overall and 14-2 in the SAC. The Bulldogs had won 14 consecutive league games prior to Saturday's setback.
 
For Anderson, junior forward Jennifer Monroe (Clemson, S.C.) had 14 points. Trojan senior guard Sierra Simpson (Simpsonville, S.C.) and junior forward Jasmine Franklin (Simpsonville, S.C.) added 13 points each. The AU Trojans outrebounded the Bulldogs 41-31, winning the rebounding war both times as the two teams split the season series. Anderson sophomore center Alexis Dillard (Taylors, S.C.) led both squads with her 11 boards Saturday.
 
For Wingate, post players Andrea Bertrand (Midlothian, Va.) and Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) led the visitors with 15 points each. Sophomore guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) contributed 11 points.
 
"Anderson played a great game," Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock says. "They made big plays when they had to and did an excellent job on the boards. They played with tremendous energy and effort. Second chance points were critical; they were able to rebound and get to the free throw line."
 
The 11-point final margin was Anderson's largest of the afternoon. A lay-up by Wingate graduate student forward Chantal Dunbar (Virginia Beach, Va.) tied the game for the sixth (and final) time at 45-45 with 10:59 remaining in regulation. Three different AU players put together a 7-0 run to give the Trojans a 52-45 edge on a lay-up by sophomore guard Heather Jankowy (Walhalla, S.C.) with 8:19 left in the second stanza.
 
Wingate would get no closer than three points down the stretch. The visitors hit only one field goal in the final five minutes, a fast-break lay-up by Tricoli with 67 seconds left. The bucket cut the Bulldog deficit to 62-57, but Wingate did not score again. Monroe hit an inside hoop on the ensuing possession and the hosts hit four-of-six free throws in final 36 seconds for insurance.
 
The Bulldogs led 31-22 when sophomore guard Taylor Walker (Trinity, N.C.) hit a three-point field goal at the shot clock buzzer with 6:20 remaining in the first half. The nine-point advantage was Wingate's biggest lead of the day. Anderson finished the first frame on a 12-3 run, tying the score 34-34 on two Franklin free throws with 36.7 seconds remaining. The two teams went to intermission with the same score.
 
Wingate hit 54.2 percent of its first half field goals (13-of-24) and converted 62.5 percent of its first half three-pointers (five-of-eight). The visitors shot only 30 percent from the floor after intermission (nine-of-30), finishing the afternoon with a 40.7 percent shooting day (22-of-54).
 
Anderson hit 41.4 of its field goals (24-of-58), while taking three of the five major specialty statistics categories. Anderson edged Wingate 24-20 in points in the paint. The Trojans scored 17 points off 13 Bulldog turnovers and tallied 20 second-chance points thanks to 14 offensive rebounds. Wingate scored 10 points off six Anderson mistakes, while posting only five second-chance points from seven offensive boards.
 
Wingate returns home Wednesday, hosting Queens University of Charlotte for a 6 p.m. contest in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. The Bulldogs defeated the Royals 67-50 on Jan. 14 in Charlotte. Anderson visits Mars Hill Wednesday at the same time.