VIDEO | Ann Hancock Interview
VIDEO | Season Preview (Jeter, Stephen, Clark)

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs open the 2019-20 season this weekend, traveling to South Carolina for the PBC-SAC Challenge, beginning Friday against Clayton State. The 'Dogs take on Georgia College Saturday to wrap up the opening weekend. Wingate is coming off a 23-9 season, going 15-5 in league play to finish in a tie for second in the SAC standings.

The Bulldogs earned their sixth consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament last season, making their SAC-best 17th tournament appearance all-time. Wingate appeared in the SAC Tournament championship game for the fourth consecutive season last year, while also making another trip to the NCAA regional semifinals. The 'Dogs were picked to finish third in the preseason SAC coaches' poll.

The Bulldogs lost some key pieces from last year's squad, with three of the four seniors scoring over 1,000 points in their careers. Wingate does have preseason All-SAC selection Teliyah Jeter returning, along with senior Jordan Quick, who is still recovering from an injury. The 'Dogs will count on several newcomers to make an immediate impact, as Wingate welcomes eight freshmen to this year's squad.

"It's been an up and down preseason, as expected with such a large group of freshmen," head coach Ann Hancock says. "At times we have looked very good, at other times our youth has been exposed. But in the big picture, I think we have more size and versatility in this group. This group may be the most talented of any of our freshmen classes, but they have plenty to learn. Our goal every year is to make the NCAA Tournament and compete for a conference championship. You can't make the tournament if you don't have success in the conference and the region. It's very important to get off to a good start this weekend. Playing two good region teams on opening weekend will certainly be a challenge."

One of the biggest keys to this year's team is veteran leadership for a team with 12 freshmen and sophomores and just one senior. "Teliyah Jeter, from a leadership perspective, has stepped up," Hancock says. "It's great to have her experience and leadership out there."

Junior Jasmine Stephen and sophomore Elana Ingram will also play key leadership roles. "Jasmine has risen to the challenge as far as being our vocal leader and leading by example," Hancock says. "She works hard and practices hard every day. She thrives defensively, which not everyone wants to do, so she's not afraid to do the dirty work. We need her to be able to stay on the floor so we have a voice out there. Elana has made great progress from last year, taking strides to making improvements to be solid on both sides of the floor."

POSITION BREAKDOWNS

POINT GUARDS

Wingate will turn to a pair of freshmen to run the point guard position this season, led by Hannah Clark, who was a three-time all-conference player at Kings Mountain High School, where she was also a track & field standout. "Hannah is very composed for a freshman," Hancock says. "She can handle the ball well, sees the floor great, can create shots for others and is very unselfish. If she's left open, she has three-point range and the ability to extend the defense and make people come and guard her."

Classmate Jaia Wilson will also play a key role at point guard. The freshman earned all-conference and all-district honors at Clyde A. Erwin High School, where she scored over 2,000 career points and was named the WMAC Player of the Year. "Jaia is a little different than Hannah," Hancock says. "She is very aggressive, she always looks to get it down the court quickly and looks to attack. She can get to the rim any time she wants. She excels on the defensive end as well. Jaia will take charges and puts great pressure on the ball. She brings a great element of toughness, never backs down, not afraid of any level of competition. She's not afraid of physical play."

The sophomore Ingram will see some time at point guard and at the two guard this season. She appeared in 26 games last season, scoring 74 points on the year while adding 24 assists and 13 steals. "Elana is incredibly strong and has a gift to get to the rim and finish through contact," Hancock says. "She is an outstanding defender that can pressure the ball without getting beat and has stepped up in the preseason. She has proven to be able to make good decisions and reads, getting people the ball where they can be successful. She also worked hard in the offseason on extending her shooting range."

WINGS

The junior Stephen appeared in all 32 games last season, making a pair of starts. She averaged 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds per contest on 44 percent shooting from the field, adding 48 assists and 14 steals. "Jasmine gives us some size at the wing and has a very good midrange pull-up game," Hancock says. "She also takes a lot of pride in getting the team going defensively and pressuring the ball, creating offense off of her defense."

Sophomore Maeola Willis saw action in 22 games during her freshman season, collecting 12 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. "Maeola is an athletic wing," Hancock says. "She is a good driver that really has a knack for making defenders help and then dumping it off to our post players. She is also a very good on-the-ball defender and will fit in nicely with our defensive strategy of pressing and trapping this year."

Freshman Jaxson Douglas will also play a key role on the wing this season, after earning All-Region honors at Richmond Hill High School in Georgia last year. "Jaxson is a three-point shooter with deep range," Hancock says. "Whenever she shoots it I think it's going in the basket. She will be an important part of stretching the defense, which will allow us to get the ball inside more effectively."

POSTS

The junior Jeter earned preseason All-SAC honors this year after averaging 7.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season. She led the SAC and ranked 10th in the nation with 95 blocked shots last season, the fourth-most in league history. "Teliyah is obviously a great shot blocker," Hancock says. "She has really expanded her game to be able to use both hands to finish around the basket. She will be counted on to really elevate her game in all phases. We'll need her to be on the floor the majority of the time."

Freshman Destiny Coleman helped lead Spring Valley High School to state championship in 2018. "Destiny is very a versatile post player who can do a little bit of everything," Hancock says. "She can play with her back to the basket, she can face up and she's a good ball handler for her size. She will allow us to do some things differently on offense with her ability to do everything. She has a very high basketball IQ and seems to know how to make the right play at the right time."

Classmate Bryanna Troutman will also play a huge role in her first season with the Bulldogs after earning all-conference and all-county accolades every year of her career at Salisbury High School, where she was named the team's MVP each of the last three seasons. "Bryanna is an aggressive offensive player who can play in the post and the perimeter," Hancock says. "I think she'll be counted on to be a big part of our offensive scheme. She is a very versatile player that can shoot or drive. She is a great talent."

Sophomore Ilene Hurley appeared in 11 games last season, compiling eight points and 12 rebounds. "Ilene will provide depth in the post and can give us some size to be able to defend in the post," Hancock says. "She has extender her range to be able to face up and take some people off the dribble from the high post area."

Freshmen Daphney Saylor and Jaeda Scott will also see some time in the post for the Bulldogs this season. Saylor was an All-Region honoree at Goose Creek High School, while Scott was an all-conference player at Clayton High School, where she was also a standout on the track & field team. "Daphney is a post player who really is unmatched in her effort," Hancock says. "She is the hardest worker on the team, she challenges everybody every day to raise up to her effort level. She's still learning the ins and outs of the game, but she will really help us with how hard she plays. Jaeda gives us some depth and size in the post," Hancock says. "She is very skilled at facing the basket and ball handling for her size."

The Bulldogs open the season this weekend against Clayton State and Georgia College, with both games taking place in Anderson, S.C. Wingate plays its home opener Wednesday night, hosting Johnson C. Smith at 5:30 p.m. The 'Dogs open league play at home Nov. 23, welcoming Lincoln Memorial to town at 2 p.m. The SAC Tournament gets underway March 4, with the higher seeds hosting the quarterfinals. The semifinals and finals will take place March 7 and 8 at Timmons Arena in Greenville, S.C.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 13 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 113 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 122 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.