Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) celebrated her regular season finale in style, posting team-best totals of 16 points and six rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to a 73-62 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over number 21 Anderson University Saturday in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. McGee hit three-of-five field goals and nine-of-10 free throws on her Senior Day.

With the eighth consecutive victory, Wingate improves to 18-8 overall and 15-7 in the SAC. Anderson falls to 20-5 overall and 18-4 in the SAC. The number three seed Bulldogs will host number six seed Catawba (15-13 overall, 12-10 SAC) Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in a first round SAC tournament game. Fans can buy tickets for the Wingate/Catawba game at this link. Anderson entertains number eight seed Lenoir-Rhyne (12-14 overall, 11-11 SAC) the same night at 7 p.m.
 
Wingate freshman guard Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) had 14 points, five rebounds and two steals. Sophomore center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) had 10 points and matched McGee with six boards. The Texas-El Paso transfer blocked a game-high three shots. WU sophomore guard Taziya Moody (Columbia, S.C.) had nine points on the strength of a seven-of-10 night at the foul line.
 
"Today was a terrific Senior Day, colon cancer awareness day and final regular season win," Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock says. "I'm so happy for our seniors…both Morgan and (senior center) Alysia (Hudson, Jacksonville, N.C.) played extremely well as did the entire team.
 
For Anderson, senior forward Jennifer Monroe (Clemson, S.C.) had 20 points and seven rebounds, converting six-of-eight field goals and eight-of-10 free throws. She scored 16 of her 20 points in the first half as the Trojans built a 35-32 lead going to the halftime locker room. AU junior guard Heather Jankowy (Walhalla, S.C.) and senior guard Madison Floyd (Cowpens, S.C.) had 14 points and 12 points, respectively. Both players hit four three-point field goals each.
 
"We made some adjustments after halftime and were able to keep them off the free their line," Hancock says. "I thought Danasia did a fantastic job on Monroe in the second half. We will enjoy this one and get ready for the first round tomorrow."
 
Wingate dominated two of the five specialty statistics categories. The Bulldogs' bench outscored the Trojans' reserves 36-6. In addition to the aforementioned 19 markers from Miscenko and Moody, Wingate junior guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) posted nine points. Hudson and junior forward Kristina Rumplasch (Mount Airy, N.C.) had four points each off the WU bench.
 
"Taz made some huge plays down the stretch," Hancock says. "This team has been very unselfish and winning to do whatever is needed to win. Marta also came in and was a difference maker."
 
The Bulldogs outscored the Trojans 32-10 in the paint. Wingate turned 20 Anderson turnovers into 17 points. The Trojans were not as opportunistic, converting 11 Bulldog miscues into seven points. Wingate had almost twice as many offensive rebounds, as the Bulldogs pulled down 15 offensive boards (compared to eight for the Trojans). The hosts had 11 second-chance points, compared to six for the visitors.
 
Wingate and Anderson were tied 51-51 entering the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs started the final stanza on an 18-4 run, climaxed by a Tricoli jumper with 2:05 to play. The bucket made the score 69-55 Bulldogs. Anderson cut the deficit to nine in the waning moments (71-62 with 52 seconds left), but the two-time defending SAC regular season champions would get no closer.
 
Miscenko matched McGee with six rebounds as Wingate outrebounded Anderson 39-33. Witherspoon had five caroms, while Tricoli and redshirt junior guard Amber Neely (Charlotte, N.C.) pulled down four boards each. Monroe and junior forward Alexis Dillard (Taylors, S.C.) had seven rebounds each for the visitors.