Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior center Marta Miscenko and junior guard Courtney Robinson combined for 41 points to lead the number six Bulldogs to a 73-56 NCAA Division II women's basketball triumph over UNC Pembroke Sunday afternoon in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. The Bulldogs outscored the Braves 24-9 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
 
Miscenko had 25 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while Robinson had 16 points and game-best totals of seven assists and five steals. Robinson played a team-high 38 minutes Sunday. UNC Pembroke sophomore forward Aliyah Farmer led the visitors with 13 points and five rebounds. Braves junior guard Alecia Hardy added 12 points and a team-best three steals.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #6 Wingate 73, UNC Pembroke 56
Records: #6 Wingate 4-1, UNC Pembroke 2-1
Location: Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wingate shot 64.3 percent from the floor in the pivotal third quarter, hitting nine-of-14 field goals and two-of-three three-point tries (66.7 percent). On the other end, UNC Pembroke shot only 33.3 percent in the third frame (four-of-12).
-The Bulldogs won four of the five specialty statistics categories, outscoring the Braves in the paint (34-24), off turnovers (28-23), on second chances (17-13) and via the fast break (12-4). UNC Pembroke's bench outscored the Wingate reserves 27-16.
-Both teams were super successful from the foul line. Wingate hit 13-of-14 free throws (92.9 percent), while UNC Pembroke made nine-of-11 charity tosses (81.8 percent).
-Wingate outrebounded UNC Pembroke 30-24. Juniors Danasia Witherspoon and Caroline Averette backed Miscenko's efforts with six and five rebounds, respectively. Averette added six assists, five points and three steals to her statistical ledger Sunday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Wingate started quickly, taking an 11-5 lead on an Averette three-pointer with 6:42 left in the quarter. UNC Pembroke put together a 10-2 run to take a 17-13 advantage on a lay-up by junior guard Avery Locklear with 2:27 to play. The Braves led 21-18 after the first 10 minutes, with Hardy topping the UNCP scoring charts with eight points. Miscenko had seven markers for the hosts.
 
Second quarter

Robinson kept Wingate in the game, scoring 10 of her 16 points in the second stanza. UNC Pembroke built its biggest lead midway through the quarter, taking a 29-20 edge on a jumper by Aliyah Farmer at the 5:28 mark. The Bulldogs answered with a 12-0 run to take a 32-29 lead on a Miscenko jumper with 2:33 left. Robinson had eight of the 12 points, while Miscenko had the other four. UNC Pembroke scored the last five points of the half to take a 34-32 lead at intermission.
 
Third quarter
 
Wingate started the third frame on an 11-0 run to take a 43-34 lead on a steal and fast-break jumper by Robinson at the 7:19 mark. A Locklear hoop pulled the visitors with five at 43-38 two minutes later, but the Braves would get no closer. Wingate led 56-43 at the end of the third quarter. Miscenko and Robinson led the way with eight and six points, respectively.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Miscenko and junior center Zasha Barrett had six points each in the fourth, helping Wingate keep its advantage in double-figures throughout the final stanza. A Barrett jumper (from a Witherspoon assist) gave Wingate a 63-45 lead at the 7:20 mark. The 18-point bulge was the Bulldogs' biggest advantage of the afternoon.  
 
TURNING POINT
 
Wingate's 24-9 third quarter (on 64.3 percent shooting) gave the host Bulldogs a double-digit lead after 30 minutes.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Miscenko hit 10-of-16 field goals, while Robinson converted six-of-10 attempts from the floor as Wingate shot 50 percent from the field (28-of-56) Sunday.
-Robinson (38), Averette (37) and Witherspoon (34) combined to play 109 of Wingate's 200 minutes.
-UNC Pembroke head coach John Haskins has spent 29 years in the Braves athletic department, including 14 seasons as the head women's basketball coach. Haskins was the UNCP head men's basketball coach for 10 years.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "It is nice to be back at home and bounce back from a tough road performance. It was a true team effort with some good individual performances. Marta shot the ball well and put in some good work on the offensive boards. Courtney was very efficient with the ball (only two turnovers in 38 minutes) She shot the ball well and was positive assists-to-turnovers. Caroline also took good care of the ball. We have a quick turn-around with Newberry coming in on Wednesday. We will need a strong defensive effort to stop their scorers."
 
ON THE HORIZON

Wingate opens South Atlantic Conference play Wednesday, Nov. 29 when Newberry visits for a 6 p.m. league contest. UNC Pembroke begins Peach Belt Conference action Saturday, Dec. 2, visiting Young Harris for a 1:30 p.m. encounter.