Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) recorded her 22nd career double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds, helping the number 21 Bulldogs take a 70-59 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over Lincoln Memorial University Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. Wingate has won eight straight games.
 
Bulldog junior guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) and junior forward Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) added 13 and 12 points, respectively, as Wingate its 19th consecutive home game (dating to last season). The defending SAC tournament champions are a perfect 12-0 at home during the 2017-18 campaign.
 
For Lincoln Memorial, junior guard Emily Griffith (Oliver Springs, Tenn.) had 17 points. LMU freshman center Cameryn DuBose (Washington, D.C.) posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. Railsplitter senior guard Shea Coker (Knoxville, Tenn.) contributed 11 points on the strength of a game-high three three-point field goals.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #21 Wingate 70, Lincoln Memorial 59
Records: #21 Wingate 19-3 overall (13-2 SAC), Lincoln Memorial 13-10 overall (9-8 SAC)
Location: Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Thanks in large part to Emily Griffith and Cameryn DuBose, the LMU reserves outscored their Wingate counterparts 38-9.
-Wingate outscored LMU 27-15 in the fourth quarter. Miscenko had 13 of her 28 points in the fourth quarter. LMU led 44-43 after 30 minutes of play.
-The Bulldogs shot 80 percent from the floor (eight-of-10) and 83.3 percent from the foul line (10-of-12) in the aforementioned fourth frame.
-The LMU Railsplitters made only 26.3 percent of their fourth quarter field goals (five-of-19) after shooting 53.8 percent from the floor in the third quarter (seven-of-13).
-Wingate outrebounded LMU 41-32. Witherspoon narrowly missed her own double-double with nine rebounds.
-The contest featured nine tie scores and seven lead changes.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Lincoln Memorial led 16-14 after the first 10 minutes, as Wingate shot a frigid 18.2 percent from floor (four-of-22). The first quarter alone had four tie scores and four lead changes. Emily Griffith led the 'Splitters with five points. Miscenko and Witherspoon had four points each for the hosts.
 
Second quarter
 
Lincoln Memorial took an eight point advantage (22-14) on a DuBose follow shot with 7:41 left. The margin was the Railsplitters' biggest lead of the afternoon. Wingate outscored LMU 11-2 to close the second stanza. An Averette lay-up concluded the run with 16 seconds left, putting the Bulldogs up 30-28 at the halftime break. Miscenko led the Bulldogs with 11 first-half points, while Emily Griffith led the 'Splitters with nine points.
 
Third quarter
 
Wingate quickly padded its narrow halftime lead, scoring the first six points of the second half to take a 36-28 lead on a jumper by senior guard Taziya Moody (Columbia, S.C.) with 7:55 left. LMU quickly responded, scoring eight unanswered points to tie the game 36-36 on a three-point field goal by junior guard Rachel Griffith (Oliver Springs, Tenn.) at the 6:10 mark. DuBose hit a jumper (on a Coker dish) to make the score 44-40 LMU with 1:24 to go. Bulldog junior guard Taylor Helms (Monroe, N.C.) answered with a three-point field goal on the other end (1:02) to finish the third quarter scoring.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
A three-pointer by Averette gave Wingate the lead for good 47-44 with 8:51 to play in regulation. A Witherspoon jumper made the score 51-45 at the 6:41 plateau. DuBose answered with an inside hoop 25 seconds later. The Bulldogs responded with a 10-0 run, concluded by two Witherspoon free throws with 3:18 left. The two charity tosses gave Wingate its largest lead of the afternoon at 61-47. LMU would get no closer than seven points down the stretch.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Miscenko made five-of-six field goals and three-of-four free throws in the fourth quarter to help the Bulldogs turn the tide.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Miscenko was three points shy of her career-high scoring output. The 2017 All-SAC and All-Southeast Region performer had 31 points in a 68-51 SAC victory over Lenoir-Rhyne on Jan. 10. She hit 12-of-24 field goals Saturday afternoon.
-Wingate outscored LMU 38-22 in the paint.
-Miscenko (943 career points) and Witherspoon (942 career points) are approaching the 1000-point plateau.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "Once again, the second effort was strong. Marta came alive in the second half and gave them some problems. We did a good job of getting her the ball where she could be successful. Winning the boards and getting to the line was big. Every game is important and this one was no different. We know winning at home is crucial."
 
NEXT ON THE AGENDA

Wingate hits the road Wednesday, visiting Lenoir-Rhyne for a 6 p.m. SAC contest. Lincoln Memorial plays a rare February out-of-conference game Tuesday, hosting Tennessee Wesleyan in Tex Turner Arena at 6 p.m.