Charlotte, N.C.----Wingate University graduate student Haleigh Hatfield and sophomore Jaia Wilson combined for 44 points and 17 rebounds Saturday afternoon, leading the Bulldogs to an 80-74 victory at Queens University in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action. Wingate improves to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the SAC, while the Royals fall to 0-4 overall and 0-4 in league play.

THOUGHTS FROM ANN HANCOCK

"It was great to finally get back on the court after nearly a month off. It has been a rollercoaster for the team getting prepared to play and then not getting to. There was a bit of nervousness and lots of excitement to be back on the court. It was a great team effort led by Haleigh Hatfield. We won the boards and did a nice job getting to the free throw line. Jaia Wilson and Hannah Clark did a nice job on the boards, which is something we have been emphasizing. Ilene Hurley have us some solid minutes at the center. Bryanna Troutman came up big in the fourth quarter on the boards and getting to the line. Lauren Sullivan and Ashley Breindl gave us important minutes off the bench. We will have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball next time out. It was a good start to 2021."

KEY STATS

- Wingate shot 44 percent from the field; Queens shot 38 percent
- The 'Dogs hit six-of-17 threes (35 percent); the Royals were nine-for-23 from distance (39 percent)
- WU held a 45-31 rebounding advantage and 13-4 edge in second-chance points
- Queens scored 26 points off 27 Wingate turnovers
- The Bulldogs had 23 points off 22 Queens miscues
- Wingate was 22-31 at the free throw line; QU went 19-for-23 at the line
- The Royals had 15 steals compared to seven for the 'Dogs
- Queens had four blocked shots, while Wingate was credited for just one on the day

KEY BULLDOGS

- Hatfield a career-high 27 points to go along with nine rebounds, two assists and a block
- The graduate student was six-for-10 from the field and five-for-seven from three-point range
- Wilson added a career-high 17 points, eight boards, two steals and an assist on six-of-eight shooting
- Hannah Clark contributed 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals
- Bryanna Troutman had 10 points and three boards 
- Ilene Hurley added eight points, eight boards and a steal

NOTES

- First game for the Bulldogs since Dec. 5 at Belmont Abbey
- Wingate moves to 25-0 all-time against the Royals
- The Bulldogs are 11-0 at Queens all-time
- Hatfield has scored in double figures all four games of her Wingate career
- She has pulled down at least seven rebounds in all four games
- Third straight double-digit scoring effort for Wilson after having zero last season
- Season-high 13 points for Clark, who led the 'Dogs in scoring as a freshman last year
- Second time in three games Troutman has scored in double figures this season
- Career highs in points and rebounds for the junior Hurley
- Second time the 'Dogs have scored at least 80 this season after doing so once last year

FIRST QUARTER

- Buckets from Hurley, Wilson and Aliyah Whiteside gave the 'Dogs an early 6-0 lead
- Queens answered with a 12-4 run to take a two-point lead at the 4:14 mark
- Alisa Davenport's three gave the Royals a 17-13 lead with two minutes left
- Wilson's bucket got Wingate back within two
- A Kristian Eanes jumper in the final seconds put the Royals on top 22-17

SECOND QUARTER

- The Bulldogs scored the first eight points of the second quarter to regain the lead
- Hatfield knocked down a pair of triples in the flurry to make it 25-22
- Wilson's steal and layup put Wingate on top by four with six minutes left in the half
- Eanes answered with a triple to pull the Royals back within a point
- Four Hatfield free throws extended the WU lead to five at 35-30 with 4:12 to go
- A three and a layup from Clark gave the 'Dogs a 43-36 halftime advantage

THIRD QUARTER

- Wingate scored the first seven points of the third quarter to push the lead to 14
- Hatfield, Clark and Hurley each had a field goal in the spurt
- A Caitlyn Moore three-point play pulled the Royals within six at the 3:35 mark
- Hatfield buried a triple at the buzzer to give Wingate a 57-49 lead heading to the fourth

FOURTH QUARTER

- Wilson's bucket in the opening minute gave the 'Dogs an eight-point lead
- an Eanes jumper a minute later pulled Queens within four at 59-55
- A Troutman bucket and Hatfield three made it 64-55 with 6:22 remaining
- Another Hatfield three and Troutman layup pushed the lead to 10 with four minutes left
- Four Queens free throws and an Amari Davis bucket pulled the Royals within two with a minute left
- Free throws from Hatfield and Troutman pushed the WU lead to five with 29 seconds to go
- Two more Hatfield free throws with 11 seconds left put Wingate on top 78-71

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back on the road Wednesday, traveling to Newberry at 5:30 p.m.
- The 'Dogs then host Newberry Monday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m.
- The Bulldogs are also home Wednesday, Jan. 13, hosting Coker at 5:30 p.m.