Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University juniors Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) and Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) combined for 36 points and 12 rebounds, boosting the number 21 Bulldogs to a 73-61 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over Coker College Wednesday evening in Cuddy Arena. Wingate is 10-0 against Coker since the Cobras joined the SAC prior to the 2013-14 season.
 
Averette had 22 points and five rebounds, while Witherspoon had 14 points and seven boards. Bulldog senior center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) passed the 1000-point plateau for her career with a basket at the 6:37 mark of the third quarter. Miscenko and her WU teammates have won 12 games in a row.
 
The defending SAC tournament champions have won 21 games in a row at home, dating to last season. Wingate is a perfect 14-0 at home during the current campaign. For Coker, senior forward Iresha Cooper (Hemingway, S.C.) and sophomore guard Shay Jackson (Orangeburg, S.C.) had 10 points each. Graduate student center Janea Williams (Pinehurst, N.C.) pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #21 Wingate 73, Coker 61
Records: #21 Wingate 23-3 overall (17-2 SAC), Coker 8-17 overall (5-14 SAC)
Location: Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court, Wingate, N.C.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wingate junior guard Courtney Robinson (Taylors, S.C.) had 12 points and a game-high eight assists.
-The Bulldogs had 19 assists on 26 made baskets.
-Wingate shot 68.8 percent in the third quarter (11-of-16) to take its biggest lead of the night.
-The Bulldogs held a slim 37-36 rebounding advantage. Miscenko led the hosts with nine boards.
-Wingate turned 16 Coker turnovers into 17 points.
-Williams had eight points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots for the visitors.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
The low-scoring first quarter ended with Wingate leading Coker 10-9. Averette hit a jumper (1:33) to make the score 10-9 and give the Bulldogs the lead for good.
 
Second quarter

A Witherspoon lay-up (on an assist from junior guard Taylor Helms) gave Wingate a 21-13 advantage with 6:26 remaining. A Robinson lay-up with 59 seconds to play made the score 32-22 Bulldogs, the hosts' largest lead of the first half. Averette (nine points) and Witherspoon (seven points) led Wingate, while Williams and sophomore forward Erin Houser (Orangeburg, S.C.) had four points each for Coker. Nine different Cobras scored in the first half.
 
Third quarter
 
Averette's jumper at the 4:39 mark made the margin 45-30 Wingate. On its next possession, Wingate took its biggest lead of the evening (47-30) on a jumper by freshman guard Jasmine Stephen (Virginia Beach, Va.) with 4:07 to play. The Bulldogs led 56-41 after 30 minutes of play.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Coker cut its deficit to 60-54 with three minutes remaining. Wingate nudged its lead back to double figures 90 seconds later (1:47) when Witherspoon hit a jumper to make the score 65-54 Bulldogs.
 
TURNING POINT
 
Wingate's hot-shooting hand in the third quarter allowed the Bulldogs to extend their lead.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Lincoln Memorial edged number three Carson-Newman 89-87 Wednesday night in Harrogate, Tenn. The C-N Eagles are 25-2 overall and 17-2 in the SAC. The Bulldogs and the Eagles are tied for first place in the league's standings.
-The Coker bench outscored the Wingate substitutes 37-12.
-The game was tied three times and the lead changed hands three times.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "Tonight was a really good win for us.  Coker is a difficult match-up for us, especially on a short rest and not much time to prepare.  They made it tough on Marta inside, but others picked up the slack. It was nice to be at home, get the win and be able to recognize Marta for scoring her 1000th point."
 
ON THE HORIZON

Wingate concludes the 2017-18 regular season Saturday, visiting number three Carson-Newman for a 2 p.m. contest. Coker hits the road again Saturday, traveling to in-state neighbor Anderson for a 2 p.m. encounter.