Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) and junior guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) scored 15 points each, lifting the number 22 Bulldogs to 67-58 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over Anderson University Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. Wingate is a perfect 13-0 at home this season.
 
Bulldog junior forward Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The defending SAC tournament champions have won 20 games in a row at home, dating to last season. In addition to Miscenko, Wingate senior guard Taziya Moody (Columbia, S.C.) was honored in post-game Senior Day ceremonies.
 
For Anderson, sophomore guard Madison Baggett (Huntsville, Ala.) had 15 points on the strength of a game-high five three-point field goals. Sophomore guard Alexy Mollenhauer (Lindale, Texas) added 14 points for the visitors. The AU Trojans and the WU Bulldogs split the season series, as Anderson won a 63-53 home decision on Jan. 6. Wingate has not lost since, putting together a 10-game winning streak.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #22 Wingate 67, Anderson 58
Records: #22 Wingate 21-3 overall (15-2 SAC), Anderson 17-9 overall (11-7 SAC)
Location: Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wingate outrebounded Anderson 44-32 with a 23-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. Miscenko had nine boards, while Averette pulled down five caroms. AU senior forward Kaylee Koerperich (New Bern, N.C.) had seven rebounds for the visitors.
-The Bulldogs outscored the Trojans 27-14 in second-chance points.
-Miscenko, Witherspoon, junior forward Zasha Barrett (Monroe, N.C.) and sophomore forward Jordan Quick (High Point, N.C.) combined for 16 field goals as Wingate outscored Anderson 36-22 in the paint.
-Wingate turned 14 Anderson turnovers into 21 points. The Trojans scored only five points from 10 Bulldog miscues.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Anderson led 19-12 after the first frame. A three-pointer by AU freshman forward Taylor Hair (Orlando, Fla.) gave the visitors their largest lead (19-10) with 90 seconds left. Baggett had six points, while Miscenko had five markers in the first quarter.
 
Second quarter
 
Wingate concluded the second quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 34-29 lead to the halftime locker room. Four different players scored during the aforementioned 10-2 run for Wingate. Averette finished the second quarter scoring with a three-point field goal (eight seconds). She had 11 first-half points to lead both teams. The Bulldogs hit 52.9 percent of its field goals in the second quarter (nine-of-17).
 
Third quarter
 
A Jordan Quick jumper (her second of the quarter) gave Wingate a 48-40 lead with 1:28 left in the third quarter. The eight-point margin was the hosts' largest to this juncture. Anderson made only five-of-16 field goals (31.3 percent) in the third quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
A jumper by junior point guard Courtney Robinson (Taylors, S.C.) put Wingate up 56-45 with 6:51 remaining in the contest. The 11-point bulge was Wingate's biggest of the afternoon. Anderson made things interesting in the waning moments, cutting the deficit to seven with four minutes left on a Baggett triple. The Trojans made 54.5 percent of their fourth-quarter field goals (six-of-11). Witherspoon led both teams with 10 fourth-quarter points.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Wingate outscored Anderson 22-10 in the second quarter to turn the tide.
 
NOTABLES
 
-In addition to Miscenko and Moody, Wingate honored graduate assistant coach Katelyn Grisillo, senior manager Crystal Gatling and senior student athletic trainer Kara McHouell in a post-game ceremony Saturday.
-The Wingate women's basketball team sponsored a Be the Match bone marrow registry drive Saturday. Wingate Athletics has had two family members donate bone marrow in the last four years. Both individuals were registered at Be The Match drives on campus.
-Miscenko (978 career points) and Witherspoon (962 career points) are approaching the 1000-point plateau.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "Senior Day is always a bitter sweet day of celebration. We will certainly miss our seniors, but we feel we have more to accomplish before the year is over."
 
"Anderson is always a difficult game for us. They are so tough on the defensive end and have so many weapons on offense. For us, the offensive glass was crucial. Danasia and our post group made some huge plays down the stretch. I thought some of the adjustments we made helped keep our offense from getting stagnant. It was a great day on and off the court."
 
NEXT ON THE AGENDA

Wingate visits Tusculum Monday for a 4 p.m. SAC matinee. The Bulldogs return home Wednesday to face Coker in their final regular season home game (6 p.m. tip). Anderson's next game is also against Tusculum. The Trojans host the Pioneers Wednesday at 6 p.m.