Belmont, N.C.----The Belmont Abbey College Crusaders poured in 51 points in the first half Saturday afternoon, defeating visiting Wingate University 89-72 in NCAA Division II women's basketball action. Belmont Abbey improves to 2-0 overall, while the 'Dogs fall to 0-3 on the season.

KEY STATS

- Belmont Abbey shot 46 percent from the field; Wingate shot 33 percent
- BAC hit 13-of-30 threes (43 percent); WU was seven-for-25 from distance (28 percent)
- The Crusaders held a 48-39 rebounding edge; Wingate had a 19-9 edge in second-chance points
- The 'Dogs scored 29 points off 27 Abbey turnovers; WU had 12 of the 20 steals on the day
- Wingate outscored Belmont Abbey 36-22 in the paint
- Abbey had all five blocks on the day and had 20 assists on the day; WU had 13 assists

KEY BULLDOGS

- Haleigh Hatfield had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bulldogs
- Jaia Wilson added 12 points, four assists and a steal
- Hannah Clark contributed nine points, six steals and five assists
- Aliyah Whiteside also had nine points, hitting all three of her threes

FIRST QUARTER

- BAC scored the first eight, taking an 8-0 lead three minutes in on a Maria Kuhlman triple
- A Whiteside three pulled Wingate within three at the midway point
- A Hannah Roney triple gave the Crusaders a 17-9 edge with two minutes left
- Shelby Darden's layup in the final minute made it 22-13

SECOND QUARTER

- Abbey scored the first eight points of the second quarter, taking a 30-13 lead on a Irelynn Davisson three
- Two Clark layups and a Jaeda Scott bucket pulled Wingate within 11 at 30-19 with 7:32 to go
- Spivey's bucket stretched the Crusader lead back to 18 at the midway point
- Hatfield's triple with 3:24 left pulled Wingate within 12 at 41-29
- Free throws from Davisson and Allie Downing in the final minute gave BAC a 51-32 halftime lead

THIRD QUARTER

- Wilson capped a 7-0 run to pull Wingate within 14 midway through the third
- Roney's bucket with 1:44 left gave the Crusaders a 59-44 advantage
- Whiteside buried a three in the final seconds to pull WU within 12 heading to the fourth

FOURTH QUARTER

- A Whiteside three in the first minute made it 63-52
- Davisson capped a 6-0 run with a three to push the lead back to 17
- Hatfield's jumper at the 6:05 mark pulled the 'Dogs back within 13 at 71-58
- Abbey answered with a 9-2 run, taking a 20-point lead on a Jo Snow three with 4:13 left
- The Bulldogs got no closer than 14 the rest of the way

UP NEXT

- Wingate hosts Mars Hill next Saturday at 2 p.m.
- The Bulldogs host Newberry the following Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m.