Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) led all scorers with 14 points as the number 14 Bulldogs rallied for a 53-48 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over Newberry College Wednesday evening in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. The Bulldogs shot 61.5 percent in the fourth quarter (eight-of-13) to complete the comeback.
 
Bulldog junior forward Zasha Barrett (Monroe, N.C.) had eight points off the WU bench, while classmate Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) had seven points and a team-high 10 rebounds. For Newberry, sophomore guard Kelsey McDermott (Mackay, Queensland, Australia) had 11 points. Wolves post players Hannah Lepaio (Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia) and Regan McCarty (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) matched Wingate's Witherspoon with 10 rebounds each.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #14 Wingate 53, Newberry 48
Records: #14 Wingate 5-1 overall (1-0 SAC), Newberry 5-3 overall (1-1 SAC)
Location: Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wingate's 61.5 percent shooting in the fourth quarter included a three-of-four effort from senior center Marta Miscenko. The 6-4 Miscenko had scored only one point in the first three quarters due to foul trouble.
-Both teams struggled mightily from the free throw line. Wingate shot 45.5 percent from the charity stripe (10-of-22), while Newberry converted only 33.3 percent of its free throws (six-of-18). Wingate hit 13-of-14 free throws (92.9 percent) in its most recent outing against UNC Pembroke.
-The Bulldogs swept the five specialty statistics categories, outscoring the Wolves in the paint (36-28), off turnovers (12-4), on second chances (11-7), via the fast break (6-2) and from the bench (19-13).
-Wingate freshmen backcourt players Morgan Simmons and Jasmine Stephen provided the hosts with a spark, scoring five and four points, respectively. The five markers were the first points of Simmons' Bulldog career.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Newberry took a 15-9 lead after the first 10 minutes, as the Wolves posted their best shooting quarter of the evening at 50 percent (seven-of-14). The Bulldogs hit only 30.8 percent of their first quarter field goal attempts (four-of-13). Five different players scored for Newberry in the frame, while Averette hit three-of-three field goals for six points to keep the hosts within striking distance.
 
Second quarter

Wingate's ice-cold shooting continued, as the Bulldogs hit only three-of-15 field goals (20 percent) in the second stanza. Newberry could not capitalize, as the Wolves and the Bulldogs scored 11 points each in the quarter. Newberry junior guard Shelby Britten hit a three-point field goal with 2:15 left, giving the Wolves their biggest lead of the evening at 26-17. Simmons answered with a three-pointer on the other end (1:54) to finish the first half scoring.
 
Third quarter
 
The Wolves picked up the cold-shooting bug, as Newberry hit only four-of-17 field goals in the third frame (23.5 percent). Wingate climbed back into the game, cutting the deficit to 35-34 on two free throws by junior guard Courtney Robinson with five seconds on the clock. Averette led both teams with six points in the third quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
The fourth quarter kept the home fans on the edge of their seats, as the lead changed hands five times with four ties. A Witherspoon jumper gave Wingate its first lead of the evening (38-36) with 8:37 left in regulation. Newberry pushed its lead back to four, but a jumper by WU sophomore forward Jordan Quick put the 'Dogs up 45-44 midway through the quarter.
 
A Miscenko jumper (on an Averette assist) gave Wingate the lead for good at 49-47 with 3:18 remaining. Newberry did not make a field goal during the last 6:32, as the Wolves shot 30.8 percent from the floor in the final frame (four-of-13). The Bulldogs had chances to put the game away, but could manage only three made free throws in 12 fourth-quarter attempts (25 percent).
 
TURNING POINT
 
Wingate's hot hand in the fourth quarter (61.5 percent shooting from the floor) proved to be the difference. The Bulldogs were unselfish, with five assists on eight made baskets in the final 10 minutes.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Newberry's roster features eight student-athletes from Australia, including its entire starting five Wednesday night.
-The Wolves played their second game of the season without point guard Nicola Handreck, who is averaging 14.7 points per game in six contests (five starts).
-Newberry's Britten entered the Wingate contest averaging a team-high 20.7 points per game. The Bulldogs held the Wolves' top long-distance shooter to nine points on four-of-16 accuracy from the field. Britten made only one-of-seven three-pointers. She had converted a team-best 26 triples in the previous seven games.
-Averette hit 60 percent of her field goals Wednesday (six-of-10). The rest of Wingate's starting line-up hit only 23.3 percent from the floor (seven-of-30).
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "This certainly wasn't a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination, but it speaks to our toughness and ability to overcome adversity.  Caroline found ways to get baskets when we couldn't seem to make one. We did not shoot the ball well, but we made enough defensive plays in the end to get the win." 
 
"Our bench played some valuable minutes and gave us a boost when we needed it. Jasmine, Morgan and Jordan made big plays when we needed them, which will help us down the road.  Marta and Danasia showed a lot of resolve when things weren't going their way. I think their leadership will also help us in the long run."
 
ON THE HORIZON

Wingate plays game three of a four-game home stand Saturday, hosting Mars Hill for a 2 p.m. league contest. Newberry returns home the same day, entertaining number 15 Carson-Newman for a 2 p.m. tilt. Carson-Newman defeated Mars Hill 118-55 in Jefferson City, Tenn. Wednesday night.