Morrow, Ga.----Wingate University seniors Danasia Witherspoon and Caroline Averette combined for 31 points and 11 rebounds as the number 21 Bulldogs collected a 65-56 NCAA Division II women's basketball victory over Georgia College Friday night in The Loch.
 
The contest was game one in the South Atlantic Conference-Peach Belt Conference Challenge, hosted by Clayton State. Wingate will play the host CSU Lakers Saturday at 4 p.m. Georgia College faces SAC member Anderson (S.C.) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
 
Witherspoon had 17 points and seven rebounds (all defensive), while Averette contributed 14 points and four boards. Sydney Cleveland and Erin Drynan had 11 points and 10 points, respectively, for the Bobcats.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #21 Wingate 65, Georgia College 56
Records: #21 Wingate 1-0, Georgia College 0-1
Location: The Loch, Morrow, Ga.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wingate outrebounded Georgia College 47-35. WU sophomore forward Teliyah Jeter led both teams with 13 boards.
-Bulldog senior point guard Courtney Robinson had eight points and five steals.
-The Bulldogs hit 79.2 percent of their free throws (19-of-24), while the Bobcats hit only three free throws in eight tries (37.5 percent).
-The two teams combined for 34 turnovers (WU 16, GC 18).
-Georgia College was not shy, hoisting 23 three-point tries (making five).
-Wingate hit two triples in nine attempts, one each by Averette and sophomore guard Jasmine Stephen.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Averette hit a three-pointer to put the Bulldogs up 11-10 at the 3:15 mark. Witherspoon made two free throws with 49 seconds to play, giving Wingate a 17-10 margin and concluding a 10-0 push. The Bulldogs led 17-13 after the first 10 minutes.
 
Second Quarter
 
An inside hoop by Sadie Cleveland put Georgia College up 25-22 with 2:53 to play. An Averette lay-up tied the score 27-27 with 1:43 left. The Bobcats led 28-27 at intermission.
 
Third Quarter
 
Averette made two free throws with 6:08 to go, putting Wingate up 34-32. The Bulldogs would not trail the rest of the way. Jeter (0:53) and Averette (0:14) hit lay-ups as the quarter concluded, giving the Bulldogs a 40-36 edge,
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Stephen opened the fourth quarter scoring with a three-point field goal (9:16), giving Wingate its biggest lead (to date) at 43-36. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 60-46 on an inside bucket by junior forward Jordan Quick five minutes later. The 14-point advantage was Wingate's largest.
 
TURNING POINTS
 
Wingate's free throw shooting (frequency and accuracy) was a big difference.
 
QUOTEABLES
 
Wingate head coach Ann Hancock: "Getting a win the first night out was nice. It certainly was not pretty, but this time of year with so many new faces it is to be expected. Our post players combined to have a really nice night. Danasia and Jordan played well offensively and Teliyah was a beast on the boards. Having Caroline back was also a plus. Jasmine came in late in the game and made some big baskets. Courtney's experience made a difference for us as well. We still need to eliminate some of the sloppy turnovers especially for tomorrow because of the way Clayton State plays."