Wingate, N.C.----The number 21 Wingate University women's basketball team put three players in double figures on the way to a 68-51 South Atlantic Conference triumph over Queens University of Charlotte Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. The Bulldogs have won 18 consecutive home games (and 11 this year), dating to last season. Wingate has won 21 in a row against Queens, dating to the 1993-94 season.
 
Wingate junior guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) had 17 points to lead the hosts. Bulldog junior forwards Zasha Barrett (Monroe, N.C.) and Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) added 12 and 11 points, respectively. For Queens, junior forward Lade Adepoju (Alicante, Spain) led all scorers with 18 points.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #21 Wingate 68, Queens 51
Records: #21 Wingate 18-3 overall (12-2 SAC), Queens 4-17 overall (1-14 SAC)
Location: Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-The Bulldogs and the Royals both shot 63.6 percent from the floor in the third quarter (seven-of-11). Wingate took its biggest lead of the evening (45-27) midway through the third frame.
-Wingate swept the five major specialty statistical categories, including a whopping 38-22 advantage on points in the paint.
-The Bulldogs outscored their nearby neighbors 23-14 on points off turnovers, 10-2 on second-chance points, 8-0 on fast-break points and 19-18 on bench points.
-The two teams combined for 35 turnovers (QUC 19, WU 16), but the hosts balanced their generosity with 16 assists. WU senior center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) led the way with four helpers. Queens recorded only seven assists Wednesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Wingate took the lead for good when senior guard Taziya Moody (Columbia, S.C.) hit a jumper two minutes into the contest, giving the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad Bulldogs a 5-4 edge. Wingate led 15-8 after the first 10 minutes. Six different players scored for Wingate. Adepoju led the Queens Royals with six points.
 
Second quarter
 
A Miscenko jumper put Wingate up 21-10 with 7:23 to play in the second stanza. The 11-point margin was Wingate's largest at the time. Queens responded with a 12-3 run, cutting the deficit to 24-22 on a jumper by freshman forward Caitlyn Moore (Smyrna, Tenn.) with 2:04 left. The Bulldogs scored the last six points of the half (three baskets by three different players) to nudge their lead to 30-22 at intermission. Adepoju led both teams with 12 first-half points. Averette and Miscenko topped the WU charts with five markers each. Eight different WU student-athletes contributed first-half points.
 
Third quarter
 
A Barrett jumper gave Wingate its aforementioned 18-point lead at the 4:34 mark. The Royals cut the deficit to 50-38 on a lay-up by freshman guard Kristian Eanes (Pittsboro, N.C.) with 1:12 to go. The Bulldogs led 52-40 after three quarters of play.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
An Averette triple (on a Witherspoon dish) made the score 57-40 Bulldogs one minute into the fourth quarter. Queens made one last push, shaving the margin to 60-51 on a Moore jumper with 5:02 to play. The Royals would not score again the rest of the way, as Witherspoon started an 8-0 run with five points. WU junior guard Taylor Helms (Monroe, N.C.) sealed the deal with a three-point field goal with 33 seconds to go, making the final score 68-51.
 
TURNING POINT
 
The Bulldogs made the plays when they needed to do so. A 36-21 rebounding margin (including 12 offensive boards) led to 10 second-chance points.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Witherspoon (930 career points) and Miscenko (915 career points) are approaching the 1000-point plateau.
-Both Barrett and Averette hit five-of-nine field goals each. Wingate shot 46.3 percent on the night (25-of-54).
-Ten players saw time for the Bulldogs; nine found the scoring column.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "Tonight certainly wasn't pretty, but a win is a win. Being off on Saturday…and a little under the weather…made us rusty. Danasia, Caroline and Zasha stepped up big for us. We will need to be better on the weekend when LMU comes to town."
 
NEXT ON THE AGENDA

Wingate hosts Lincoln Memorial Saturday at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs will celebrate Play4Kay Day and Jane's Sparkle. Queens hits the road to face its second nationally-ranked opponent in as many opportunities, venturing to number three Carson-Newman for a 2 p.m. tilt.