Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University women's basketball team (10-5 overall, 7-4 SAC) posted its second-highest victory margin of the season, taking a 77-29 South Atlantic Conference triumph over the Royals of Queens University of Charlotte (2-13 overall, 0-10 SAC) Wednesday night. WU freshman guard Courtney Robinson (Taylors, S.C.) paced the Bulldogs with 12 points.

After tip-off, the Royals kept Wingate on their toes during the early moments of play as the game was tied for the first four minutes. Once the Bulldogs took the lead, they continued their charge at full-force and never looked back. The hosts made 62.5 percent of their first half field goals (15-of-24), recording 24 points second-quarter points to extend their lead to 36-17 at intermission.

Junior forward Kristina Rumplasch (Mount Airy, N.C.) added 11 points, while Wingate junior guard/forward Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) followed closely, scoring 10 points of her own. Tricoli hit six-of-six free throws. She was one of six Bulldogs with two steals each.
For Queens, sophomore guard Carmen Richardson (Rocky Mount, N.C.) had eight points. Royals junior center Maggie Stewart (Otto, N.C.) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

"It was nice to be back home and get back on track," Bulldog head coach Ann Hancock says as her team returned home to Cuddy Arena after two tough contests on the road.

The Bulldog defense held its in-conference opponent to single digits in every quarter of play. Wingate turned 28 Queens turnovers into 50 points. Redshirt freshman forward Akela Branch (Albemarle, N.C.) led the way with six rebounds as Wingate won the battle of the boards by a narrow 32-27 margin.

"We had a tremendous defensive effort along with a good shooting night," Hancock says. "This combination allowed us to play the starters fewer minutes and play some others who don't usually get to play extended minutes. All but one player scored, which made it fun. We will enjoy this game tonight and start getting ready for Mars Hill."

Wingate never trailed and led by 49 points with 1:29 left in the contest. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to double-digits midway through the second quarter and never trailed by less than 20 points in the second half.

Hancock is now 5-0 against Queens during her three-plus years as head coach. The Bulldogs will remain at home for their next match-up against the Mars Hill University Lions on Saturday (Jan. 23) at 2 p.m. Queens returns home to host NCAA Division II number 11 Anderson (S.C.) Saturday with a 2 p.m. tip-off.

(Wingate University athletics intern Phillip Pruett, Jr. contributed this article. Pruett is senior at Temple University, majoring in Sport and Recreation Management.)