Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior guard Taziya Moody (Columbia, S.C.) hit two free throws with 13 seconds left, lifting the number 22 Bulldogs to a 69-67 South Atlantic Conference triumph over Catawba College Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. The Bulldogs placed five starters in double figures to collect their sixth straight victory.
 
Wingate junior guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) led the Bulldog charge with 19 points, while junior guard Courtney Robinson (Taylors, S.C.) added 16 points for the hosts. For Catawba, senior guard Serena Brown (Ft. Washington, Md.) had 19 points, while senior forward Terri Rogers (Mebane, N.C.) contributed 13 points and a team-best eight rebounds.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #22 Wingate 69, Catawba 67
Records: #22 Wingate 17-3 overall (11-2 SAC); Catawba 12-9 overall, 10-4 SAC
Location: Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Moody and WU junior forward Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) added 11 points each, while senior center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) had 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
-Wingate shot 75 percent in the third quarter (nine-of-12), turning a 33-31 halftime deficit into a 55-47 advantage.
-The Bulldogs hit 51.1 percent of their field goals (24-of-47) Wednesday. Wingate converted a season-low 29.8 percent from the floor (17-of-57) in a 60-47 loss to Catawba on Dec. 19, 2017.
-Wingate outrebounded Catawba 31-27. Witherspoon pulled down seven boards.
-The Catawba Indian bench outscored the Bulldog substitutes 20-2. Wingate outscored Catawba 36-20 in the paint.

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Rogers hit a three-point field goal at the first quarter buzzer, giving Catawba a 22-16 lead after the first 10 minutes. The six-point edge was the visitors' largest lead of the night. The Indians made nine-of-15 field goals in the frame (60 percent) and four-of-eight from three-point land (50 percent). Averette had nine first-quarter points to lead both teams.
 
Second quarter
 
Wingate scored the first seven points of the second quarter, taking a 23-22 lead on a Robinson jumper with seven minutes left. Catawba responded with a 9-2 burst to make the score 31-25 on a Brown triple at the 3:43 mark. The Bulldogs scored six of the last eight points of the quarter to cut the deficit to 33-31 on a Robinson free throw with 80 seconds remaining. Catawba led by the same score at the break. Robinson had eight points in the frame to lead both teams.
 
Third quarter
 
The Bulldogs outscored the Indians 24-14 in the third quarter. Witherspoon had seven points (after a scoreless first half), while Miscenko and Robinson had six points each. The third quarter featured five lead changes and five ties. A Miscenko jumper (on a Witherspoon dish) gave the hosts a 46-44 edge with 3:26 left.
 
The two-point lead was Wingate's first advantage of the third quarter. The Bulldogs finished the frame with a 13-3 spurt. Witherspoon's seven third-quarter points came during this flurry. The Bulldogs led 55-47 entering the final 10 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
A Robinson jumper made the score 61-50 Bulldogs with 6:50 to play in regulation. The 11-point bulge was Wingate's biggest lead of the night. Back-to-back Brown jumpers put Catawba up 67-65 with 1:17 left, finishing a 17-4 run.
 
Averette tied the game 67-67 on two free throws with 56 seconds left. Catawba missed two jumpers on the other end, fouling Moody with 13 seconds to go. Moody made both free throws to settle the final margin. Catawba missed a jumper on the other end with Miscenko grabbing the rebound as time expired.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Wingate made 75 percent of its field goals (nine-of-12) in the pivotal third quarter. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Indians 9-2 during the same time frame.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Wingate is 10-0 overall at home this season.
-The Bulldogs are the number 22 team in the most recent WBCA NCAA Division II top 25 coaches' poll, officials announce this week.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "Today's win was big. We didn't need for them to get the sweep. Our balanced scoring was definitely a factor. Catawba took away our inside game in the first half, but we were able to keep it close before the half. Danasia came out aggressively (after halftime) and made some big plays. Taz's rebounds and free throws were crucial. Catawba is very good and will go far before it is all over."
 
NEXT ON THE AGENDA

Wingate visits always-tough Tusculum Saturday at 2 p.m. Catawba hits the road again Saturday, heading south to Anderson for a 2 p.m. encounter.