Greeneville, Tenn.----Tusculum College guards Shynese Whitener (Newton, N.C.) and Maelyn Head (Greeneville, Tenn.) combined for 53 points, boosting the host Pioneers to an 82-73 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball overtime victory over Wingate University in Pioneer Arena Saturday afternoon.
 
Head scored a career-high 27 points, while Whitener added 26 points. The top scorer in the SAC, Whitener hit a three-point field goal with 16 seconds left in regulation to tie the game 65-65 and send the two teams to overtime.
 
Wingate freshman guard Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) and junior forward Kristina Rumplasch (Mount Airy, N.C.) led the visiting Bulldogs with 14 points and six rebounds each. The Bulldogs outscored the Pioneers 46-18 in the paint. Wingate's bench outscored the Tusculum reserves 33-14.
 
During overtime, the Bulldogs made only 25 percent of their field goal shots compared to Tusculum's 57 percent. The Pioneers made two three-point baskets in extra time and converted seven-of-eight from the free throw line.
 
Freshmen guards Courtney Robinson (Taylors, S.C.) and Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) also put up double digit numbers for the Bulldogs, scoring 12 points and 10 points, respectively. For Tusculum, Whitener scored seven points above her league-leading average. Head made five-of-seven three-point shots and drained eight-of-10 from the charity stripe.
 
TC freshman guard Sydney Wilson (Greensboro, N.C.) and freshman forward Kasey Johnson (Greensboro, N.C.) also contributed double-digit scoring totals with 12 points and 11 points, respectively. The battle of the boards was unquestionably won by Tusculum senior forward Kristen McMillion (Fayetteville, N.C.) who accumulated a total of 16 rebounds. Despite McMillion's efforts, Wingate outrebounded Tusculum 45-37.
 
Wingate will continue its season on the road and prepare for another tough SAC contest as they go head-to-head against the Newberry College Wolves (11-9 overall, 10-4 SAC) in Eleazer Arena Wednesday (6 p.m. tip-off). Tusculum will also hit the road for an intense conference match-up against #15 Anderson University (13-3 overall, 11-2 SAC).
 
(Wingate University athletics intern Phillip Pruett, Jr. contributed this article. Pruett is senior at Temple University, majoring in Sport and Recreation Management.)