Hartsville, S.C.----Wingate University senior guard Courtney Robinson had 20 points, seven steals, five rebounds and three assists as the Bulldogs opened South Atlantic Conference play with a 76-42 road victory over Coker Wednesday night.
 
Senior guard Caroline Averette added 13 points as the Bulldog defense held the Cobras to 27.3 percent shooting from the floor. Wingate boosts its record to 5-2 overall (1-0 SAC) with its fourth straight triumph. Coker is 1-6 overall (0-1 SAC) following the setback.
 
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH ANN HANCOCK
 
"All road wins are important. It was nice to get a win, build some confidence and get some young players experience. Courtney played really well…getting the ball in transition for easy scores."
 
KEY STATS
 
- Coker had 24 turnovers which Wingate converted into 29 points. The Bulldogs had 17 steals
- The Bulldogs outscored the host Cobras 40-16 in the paint and 29-3 on fast breaks
- Fourteen WU players dressed; 12 found the scoring column
- Wingate shot 50 percent from the floor (26-of-52), while Coker made only 15-of-55 field goals
- The Bulldogs hit 21-of-27 free throws (77.8 percent) as the Cobras shot only 12 charity tosses
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Robinson's 20 points was achieved on six-of-10 shooting from the floor (one three-pointer in two tries) and seven-of-eight accuracy from the charity stripe
- Robinson narrowly missed a career-high, as she hit 22 points at Anderson her freshman year (Jan. 16, 2016)
- Averette hit four-of-eight field goals (one three in two attempts) and four-of-four free throws
- Danasia Witherspoon pulled down a game-high eight rebounds (seven defensive) as Wingate won the battle of the boards 33-27

FIRST QUARTER
 
- Coker's Erin Houser made a two-point jumper to give Coker a 2-1 lead
- Wingate's Robinson answered with a three-pointer to give the 'Dogs a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish
- Both teams shot four-of-14 from the floor (28.6 percent); Wingate hit two three-pointers (one by Robinson, one by Averette) and five free throws to take the 15-8 lead
 
SECOND QUARTER

- Jordan Quick converted a lay-up to help the Bulldogs take a 17-8 lead
- Jasmine Stephen's inside hoop made the score 21-10 Wingate at the 7:44 mark
- A traditional three-point play by Shay Jackson pulled the Cobras within five (23-18) with 3:42 left
- The Bulldogs finished the half on an 8-0 run; a Stephen lay-up gave Wingate a 31-18 halftime lead
 
THIRD QUARTER

- Jo Snow hit a three-pointer to open Wingate's third quarter scoring and give the 'Dogs a 34-20 lead
- A Taylor Helms lay-up put Wingate up 45-20 midway through the frame
- Helms' old-fashioned three-point play made the score 50-20 'Dogs 77 seconds later
- The Bulldogs hit 64.3 percent of their third quarter field goals (nine-of-14) as the visitors led 52-28 entering the final frame
 
FOURTH QUARTER
 
- Wingate had its best shooting quarter of the game, nailing 66.7 percent (six-of-nine) field goals to pad its margin
- An inside bucket by Elena Ingram gave the 'Dogs a 74-36 advantage with 55 seconds left
- The 38-point margin was Wingate's largest of the evening
- Eight different Bulldog student-athletes scored points in the fourth quarter
 
UP NEXT
 
- Wingate hosts #11 Carson-Newman Saturday at 2 p.m. in Cuddy Arena
- The last time the Bulldogs and the Eagles met in Wingate, Averette notched a career-high 23 points to lift the hosts to a 68-54 SAC victory over the number four Eagles on Jan. 13, 2018
- Carson-Newman suffered its first loss of the 2017-18 season, falling to 16-1 overall
- Coker hits the road Saturday, venturing up the mountain to face Lincoln Memorial