Wingate, N.C.----Thirteen Wingate University student-athletes played and 13 found the scoring column as the number 14 Bulldogs claimed a 91-49 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball triumph over Mars Hill University Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. WU junior guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) led all scorers with a season-high 16 points.
 
Four Wingate players hit double-digit points. WU junior forward Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) had 12 points, while senior center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) and junior forward Zasha Barrett (Monroe, N.C.) had 10 points each. Barrett equals her career-high with the 10-point performance. MHU junior guard Sheena Johnson (Bristol, Tenn.) had 13 points to lead the Lions. Senior guard Mariah Johnson (Statesville, N.C.) added 12 points.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #14 Wingate 91, Mars Hill 49
Records: #14 Wingate 6-1 overall (2-0 SAC), Mars Hill 1-7 overall (0-2 SAC)
Location: Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wingate's 54.7 percent shooting on the afternoon (35-of-64) is a season-high performance for the Bulldogs.
-For the second consecutive game, the Bulldogs swept the five specialty statistics categories. Wingate outscored the MHU Lions in the paint (40-16), off turnovers (32-7), on second chances (23-6), via the fast break (7-4) and from the bench (48-16).
-Four Wingate players hit career-high point totals Saturday: Morgan Simmons (eight), Teliyah Jeter (six), Lindsey Barker (five) and Jailah Melvin (five). Barker's five markers were the first points of her Bulldog career.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Wingate shot 60 percent in the opening frame (nine-of-15), taking a 26-9 lead after the first 10 minutes. A Simmons three-point field goal at the 5:49 mark gave the Bulldogs the lead for good at 7-6. Mars Hill tried 10 three-point field goals in the first quarter, hitting three (30 percent).
 
Second quarter

A three-pointer by Averette gave Wingate a 39-19 lead midway through the second quarter. The Bulldogs built the advantage to 24 when Witherspoon hit a 15-footer with 3:46 left, making the score 43-19 Wingate. Averette had 13 of her 16 points in the second stanza. Sheena Johnson had eight for the Lions. The Bulldogs led 47-26 at intermission.
 
Third quarter
 
Mars Hill hit only two-of-11 field goals in the third quarter (18.2 percent) as Wingate stretched its lead to 30 at the end of the frame. A free throw by freshman guard Jasmine Stephen with 58 seconds left made the score 67-37 Bulldogs.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
The Lions did not cut the deficit below 30 in the fourth frame, as the Bulldogs built a 42-point bulge in the waning moments. Barker will long remember her first Wingate basket, as the redshirt freshman wing hit a three-point field goal with 4:18 to go, giving the Bulldogs an 81-40 advantage.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Wingate's 60 percent field goal accuracy in the first quarter set the tone for the contest.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Wingate outrebounded Mars Hill 47-22. Miscenko led the way (for the fourth time this season) with eight rebounds. Witherspoon and Barrett pulled down seven and six rebounds, respectively.
-The Bulldogs turned 21 Lion turnovers into 32 points. The Bulldogs' 17 offensive rebounds resulted in 23 second-chance points.
-Wingate had a season-high (tying) 21 assists on 35 made baskets.
-The Bulldogs hit a season-high nine three-point field goals with Averette nailing four triples.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "It was nice to get everyone in the game and have everyone score. The ladies practice so hard, it is enjoyable to see them get some experience against outside competition. We were able to knock down some outside shots, which then opened it up for the post players. Caroline and Morgan got hot in the first half to stretch the lead, which gave us some breathing room. This should be good preparation for Limestone on Monday."
 
ON THE HORIZON

Wingate concludes a four-game home stand Monday morning, entertaining Limestone for an 11:30 a.m. Future Bulldog Day contest. Wingate starts final examinations Wednesday and will not see action again until Dec. 13. Mars Hill stays on the mountain Tuesday, visiting Warren Wilson for a 6 p.m. tilt.