Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs outscored Lenoir-Rhyne 25-6 in the third quarter Wednesday night, rolling to a 59-43 victory in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 10-4 overall and 5-2 in league play. The Bears fall to 7-7 overall and 2-4 in the SAC.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH HANCOCK

"The finish product was very pleasing, but the first half was some of the worst basketball that I think we played, as far as unforced turnovers. I give them credit, they made us have to think and challenged us to recognize what defense they were in. We recognized a little better in the second half. We had some of the worst plays in first half and then turned around and had some of the best plays in the second half. Caroline Averette found some open cutters and made really nice passes and we were able to finish the plays."

KEY STATS

- Wingate shot 33.9 percent from the field on the afternoon, holding Lenoir-Rhyne to 29.2 percent
- The Bulldogs shot 57.1 percent (4-7) from three-point range, the Bears shot 30.8 percent (4-13)
- Wingate held a dominant 47-28 rebounding advantage and 13-6 edge in second chance points
- WU outscored LR 26-14 in the paint
- The Bears converted on 11-of-11 free throws while the 'Dogs were 17-for-23 at the line
- Wingate converted 22 LR turnovers into 20 points

KEY BULLDOGS

- Averette had 14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals
- Courtney Robinson contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, going seven-for-nine at the charity stripe
- Teliyah Jeter added 10 points, 10 boards, and five blocks
- Jo Snow had nine points, five rebounds, and two assists, going three-for-three from behind the arc
- Danasia Witherspoon had nine points, adding six rebounds, four steals and two assists

NOTES

- Wingate improves to 44-15 all-time vs. Lenoir-Rhyne; 24-5 in Cuddy Arena
- Averette has scored in double figures in all 14 games this season
- Jeter had her second career double-double; fifth game this year with at least four blocks
- Snow's career high for points, rebounds and threes
- Eighth time this season Witherspoon has had multiple steals in a game
- Second-highest three-point percentage of the season for the Bulldogs
- The 15 steals are the second most for Wingate this season
- Wingate had its second-highest turnover night, while forcing its second-most this season

FIRST QUARTER

- Wingate got on the board first with two free throws by Averette
- The 'Dogs would tie it at 9-9 on a Witherspoon layup  
- WU would score the next six points with a pair of free throws from Taylor Helms capping the flurry

SECOND QUARTER
- Wingate got four of its eight points of the quarter from the charity stripe
- Karlie Bearden's layup gave the Bears a 25-23 lead at half

THIRD QUARTER

- The 'Dogs outscored the Bears 25-6
- Wingate opened the frame on a 17-2 run, getting a pair of Snow triples
- A layup from Bearden was the only LR made bucket of the quarter
- Snow's third three of the quarter gave Wingate the 17-point lead with 10 minutes left to play

FOURTH QUARTER

- A Robinson layup started the scoring in the final frame
- The Bears would get within 15 on a jumper from Ashley Rodriguez with 6:46 remaining
- Buckets from Jeter and Robinson put Wingate on top 57-37 with 2:40 to go

UP NEXT

- Wingate hosts Newberry next Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.
- WU will play Tusculum next Saturday Jan 19 at 2 p.m.
- The Bulldogs then hit the road, traveling to Queens on Jan 23