Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior forward
Danasia Witherspoon had her second double-double in as many days with 17 points and 11 rebounds as the number 14 Bulldogs survived 59-48 over Clayton State University in NCAA Division II women's basketball action from Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court Saturday afternoon.
Wingate improves to 2-0 overall with the South Atlantic Conference/Peach Belt Challenge victory. Witherspoon filled out her statistics sheet with four assists, three steals and 13 made free throws in 16 attempts. Bulldogs senior center
Marta Miscenko added 15 points, four rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists despite playing only 19 minutes due to foul trouble.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: #14 Wingate 59, Clayton State 48
Records: #14 Wingate 2-0, Clayton State 0-2
Location: Cuddy Arena, Wingate, N.C. (PBC/SAC Challenge)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Wingate hit 31-of-39 free throws, including 22-of-26 charity tosses combined in the second and third quarters. The CSU Lakers committed 32 fouls, compared to 17 for the WU Bulldogs.
-Eleven Clayton State players saw action Saturday and all 11 found the scoring column. Redshirt junior
Shaquoria Miles led the visiting Lakers with 11 points and six rebounds.
-The Bulldogs shot 66.7 percent from the field in the first quarter as Wingate built a 22-6 lead.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Miscenko and junior guard
Courtney Robinson had five points each for the hot-shooting Bulldogs. Witherspoon and junior guard
Caroline Averette posted four points each. A jumper by junior forward
Zasha Barrett concluded the first quarter scoring at the 1:20 mark, giving the hosts a 22-6 advantage.
Second Quarter
Clayton State turned the tables, outscoring Wingate 24-10 in the second stanza. Miles had eight points in the frame, while junior guard
TaKwana Bland added seven points on three-of-four shooting. Wingate was zero-for-seven from the floor in the second period.
Third Quarter
Wingate's Barrett ended a 12:13 field goal drought when she converted an inside hoop (on an assist from Witherspoon) with 7:07 to play in the third quarter. The Barrett hoop made the score 40-35 Bulldogs. Wingate led 48-42 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Wingate made four-of-11 field goals in the fourth quarter to keep Clayton State at bay. Miscenko tallied four points for the visitors.
TURNING POINT
Wingate turned a 50-44 lead into a 59-44 bulge thanks to a 9-0 run in a five-minute, fourth quarter span. Miscenko had four of the nine points.
NOTABLES
-The two teams combined for 45 turnovers (25 Wingate, 20 Clayton State). The Bulldogs were more opportunistic, scoring 26 points on 20 CSU mistakes. The Lakers posted 20 points from the 25 Bulldog miscues.
-Despite playing only 19 minutes, Miscenko blocked a game-high three shots to give her nine rejections on the young season.
QUOTABLES
Wingate head women's basketball coach
Ann Hancock: "Today was a grind-it-out kind of game. Clayton State made us work for every basket. I'm pleased with the win. I thought Danasia played an outstanding game. She got to the line and made some really nice post feeds (a team-best four assists). I think today will help get us ready for games down the road."
ON THE HORIZON
Wingate hits the road for its next two games, both against Peach Belt Conference adversaries. The Bulldogs visit Francis Marion Wednesday (6 p.m.) before a trip to Lander Tuesday, Nov. 21 (5:30 p.m.). Wingate returns home to face UNC Pembroke Sunday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m.
