Greenville, S.C.----Carson-Newman University juniors Mika Wester (Newport, Tenn.) and Haris Price (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) combined for 51 points, leading the number seven Eagles to a 79-70 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball tournament championship victory over number 21 Wingate University Sunday afternoon in Timmons Arena on the Furman University campus. The Eagles earn their first SAC tournament crown since 2005 with the victory.
 
For Wingate, junior guard Caroline Averette (Midlothian, Va.) had 20 points in only 22 minutes. Bulldog senior center Marta Miscenko (Riga, Latvia) posted 17 points in only 26 minutes. Junior forward Danasia Witherspoon (Hickory, N.C.) had 10 rebounds as Wingate outrebounded Carson-Newman 38-35.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #7 Carson-Newman 79, #21 Wingate 70
Records: #7 Carson-Newman 29-2 overall, #21 Wingate 25-5 overall
Location: Timmons Arena, Furman University, Greenville, S.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wester hit 10-of-14 field goals on her way to a 27-point, seven-rebound afternoon. Price hit a game-high three three-point field goals as a part of her 24-point effort.
-Averette and Miscenko combined to hit 16-of-23 field goals (69.6 percent). The other eight Bulldogs who saw action Sunday made 12-of-43 field goals (27.9 percent).
-The two teams combined for 43 turnovers (WU 22, C-N 21). The Eagles scored 22 points from the Bulldogs' 22 mistakes. Wingate tallied 18 points from the 21 Carson-Newman miscues.
-Wingate hit 52.9 percent of its second-half field goal attempts (18-of-34). Carson-Newman made 53.3 percent of its field goal tries after halftime (16-of-30).
-Wingate outscored Carson-Newman 38-22 in the paint and 16-8 in bench points. WU freshman guard Jasmine Stephen (Virginia Beach, Va.) led the Bulldog reserves with six points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter

Wingate bolted at an 11-2 lead before settling for a 19-16 edge after the first 10 minutes. An Averette steal and lay-up at the 5:28 mark completed the 11-2 flurry. Carson-Newman put together a 7-0 push to cut the deficit to 15-13 on two Wester free throws with 2:38 to play.
 
Second quarter
 
Wingate made only 17.6 percent of its second quarter field goals (three-of-17) as Carson-Newman took the lead for good. The Eagles hit 40 percent during the same time frame (six-of-15). The Bulldogs did not score during the last 2:22, making only one of their last seven field goal tries. Wester led both teams with 18 first-half points.
Third quarter
 
Averette converted another steal into a lay-up at the 5:34 mark, trimming Wingate's deficit to 41-40. A jumper by Carson-Newman sophomore guard Tori Griffin (Strawberry Plains, Tenn.) gave the Eagles a 57-47 lead three minutes later. Carson-Newman led 59-49 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Wingate cut the deficit to six points on two occasions, the last with 8:45 left when Miscenko made a jumper. The score was 61-55 Carson-Newman at this juncture. A Price lay-up at the 4:07 mark gave the Eagles their largest lead at 76-61. Averette hit a triple with 19 seconds left to finish the scoring and bring the Bulldogs within nine points.
 
TURNING POINT
 
The second quarter set the tone for the rest of the day, as Carson-Newman claimed a lead they would not relinquish.
 
NOTABLES
 
-Averette and Miscenko represent the Bulldogs on the all-tournament team. Wester was named the MVP, joined on the five-person honor squad by teammates Price and senior forward Jecca Simerly (Talbott, Tenn.).
-Carson-Newman has won two in a row against Wingate after breaking the Bulldogs' nine-game winning streak in the series on Saturday, Feb. 24 with a home court win on Senior Day. Prior to Saturday, Feb. 24, the Eagles' last win over the Bulldogs was a 56-50 decision on March 2, 2013 in Jefferson City, Tenn.
-Wingate leads the SAC with 15 appearances in the NCAA Division II national tournament.
-The Bulldogs have an overall NCAA tourney record of 15-15 with Elite Eight appearances in 1995, 1996 and 2008.
-Wingate has won 11 SAC regular season championships and nine SAC tournament crowns.

QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head women's basketball coach Ann Hancock: "Carson-Newman is the number one in the Southeast Region for a reason. They do so many things well, it is hard to stop them on offense. They force you into rushing or turning it over on defense. They have had a great season and were the better team today. It's hard for us to be successful with the foul trouble we had today and with (senior guard) Taziya Moody (Columbia, S.C.) being injured."
 
ON THE HORIZON

Carson-Newman receives the South Atlantic Conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division II tournament, which begins with regional play Friday. Wingate was the number two Southeast Region team in last week's final poll. The Bulldogs will await word on an at-large bid. The NCAA Division II women's basketball selection show will be streamed live at 10 p.m. tonight (Sunday, March 4, 2018).