Anderson, S.C.----Anderson University led wire-to-wire Saturday, claiming a 63-53 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over number 22 Wingate University in the Abney Center.
Alexy Mollenhauer and
Erika Martin had 15 points each for the host Trojans.
For Wingate, junior guard
Courtney Robinson (Taylors, S.C.) led the visiting Bulldogs with 16 points. WU junior guard
Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) had 14 points, while junior forward
Zasha Barrett (Monroe, N.C.) contributed 10 points and a team-best eight rebounds.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Anderson (S.C.) 63, #22 Wingate 53
Records: #22 Wingate 11-3 overall (5-2 SAC), Anderson (S.C.) 10-5 overall, 4-3 SAC
Location: Abney Center, Anderson, S.C.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Anderson made 46.3 percent of its field goals (25-of-54), while Wingate hit only 33.9 percent from the floor (19-of-56). The Trojans hit seven-of-17 three-point field goals.
-The host Trojans outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-29.
Taylor Hair had 10 boards for AU, while Mollenhauer (eight) and Martin (seven) supported her efforts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Martin scored Anderson's first two buckets to give the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. Wingate made only three-of-16 field goal tries in the opening 10 minutes. The Bulldogs tied the score at 10-10 when senior guard
Taylor Helms (Monroe, N.C.) made two free throws with 1:38 remaining. The Trojans scored the final seven points of the quarter to take a 17-10 advantage.
Second quarter
Mollenhauer started the quarter with a hoop to give the hosts a nine-point edge, their biggest lead of the first half. Wingate made a 16-7 push to tie the score at 26-26 on an inside bucket by senior center
Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) at the 3:27 mark. Anderson finished the frame on a 9-0 run to take a 35-26 lead on back-to-back Mollenhauer three-point field goals. Barrett had eight points in the second quarter for the Bulldogs.
Third quarter
Anderson pushed its margin to 42-30 on an
Alexis Dillard basket 90 seconds into the third quarter. The Bulldogs cut the deficit to 44-37 when freshman guard
Jasmine Stephen (Virginia Beach, Va.) hit one-of-two free throws with 5:21 left in the quarter. Anderson stretched its lead back to double digits on the next possession when Mollenhauer hit another three-pointer. The Trojans led 51-41 entering the fourth frame.
Fourth Quarter
Anderson stretched its lead to 57-43 when Martin hit a jumper with 5:17 left in the contest. The 14-point advantage was the Trojans' largest of the afternoon. Wingate did not fold the tents, making a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 57-50 on a Miscenko inside bucket with 2:48 to play. The Trojans hit four-of-six free throws down the stretch. Mollenhauer's hoop put the hosts up 62-52 with 46 seconds remaining.
TURNING POINT
Anderson's strong first quarter set the tone for the contest as the Trojans built a lead they would not give up.
NOTABLES
-The contest matched the top two defenses in the SAC. The AU Trojans entered the game allowing 55.9 points per game, while the WU Bulldogs surrendered only 58.3 points per game (prior to Saturday).
-Anderson outscored Wingate 26-16 on points in the paint. The Trojans had a 22-13 advantage in bench points.
-The Trojans made 16 turnovers. The Bulldogs scored 12 points on the AU miscues.
QUOTABLES
Wingate head women's basketball coach
Ann Hancock: "It's hard to win games when you get outrebounded and don't shoot the ball well. Anderson did what they needed to do to be successful. They played a better game and deserved to win. We will go back to work and start trying to improve on the things we didn't do well."
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Wingate returns home Wednesday, starting the 2018 home portion of its schedule with a SAC contest against Lenoir-Rhyne. The tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. Anderson hosts Mars Hill Wednesday at the same time.
