Mars Hill, N.C. ----Wingate University senior forward Bryanna Troutman and graduate student forward Haleigh Brandon combined for 38 points and 26 rebounds Saturday afternoon, leading the Bulldogs to an 81-55 victory at Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action. Wingate wins its ninth straight game, moving to 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 1-10 overall and 1-8 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Wingate shot 46 percent from the field; Mars Hill shot 33 percent
- The 'Dogs hit 12-of-22 threes (55 percent); MHU went five-of-23 from deep (22 percent)
- The Bulldogs outrebounded the Lions 50-32, leading to an 11-2 advantage in second-chance points
- Wingate scored 18 points off 20 Mars Hill turnovers
- The Lions went eight-for-10 at the free throw line; the 'Dogs were five-of-nine
- The Bulldogs held a 38-24 edge in points in the paint and a 5-4 lead in fast-break points
- WU outscored MHU by six points or more in each of the four quarters

KEY BULLDOGS

- Troutman had 20 points and 11 rebounds, going 10-for-19 from the field
- Brandon added 18 points, 15 rebounds and two assists, while knocking down three triples
- Mikayla Dyson contributed a career-high 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in nine minutes of action
- Lauren Sullivan had nine points and five assists, knocking down three threes

NOTES

- Wingate improves to 49-11 all-time against the Lions
- The Bulldogs are 21-5 at Mars Hill
- The 'Dogs have won three straight in the series
- Wingate's ninth consecutive win, their longest since winning 12 in a row in the 2017-18 season
- The 'Dogs are also 9-1 for the first time since 2017-18, when they earned a national ranking and an NCAA Tournament berth
- Troutman and Brandon's 14th and 13th career double-doubles, respectively
- Troutman has scored 20 or more in three of the last four games
- Brandon has grabbed 71 rebounds in her last four games

FIRST QUARTER

- Mars Hill opened the game on a 4-0 run
- A Troutman jumper and a Sullivan three gave the 'Dogs the lead at 5-4
- Two Brandon threes helped push Wingate on an 11-2 run, pushing their lead to six
- Troutman and Brandon combined for 14 of the 'Dogs' 21 first-quarter points

SECOND QUARTER

- Ilene Hurley scored the two opening baskets of the second quarter
- Wingate's 8-0 run to start the quarter was capped by a Sullivan three
- The Bulldogs pushed the lead to a half-high 14 points
- The Lions utilized an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to seven at the 3:09 mark
- The 'Dogs scored seven of the next nine points to take a 44-32 lead into the break

THIRD QUARTER

-The two sides traded baskets for the first four minutes of the second half
- Wingate rattled off a 10-0 run over the next two and a half minutes behind threes from Peyton Davis and Brandon, extending the lead to 60-38
- The Lions whittled the deficit to under 20 points over the rest of the period

FOURTH QUARTER

- Dyson connected on a three in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 65-43
- The Lions once again chipped at the lead making it 68-50 with eight minutes remaining, but Troutman and Brandon answered right back with a 6-0 run of their own
- The Wingate defense held MHU to zero points for the final 5:09 of the game
- Dyson's personal 5-0 run capped the Bulldog victory, 81-55
UP NEXT
- Wingate returns to Cuddy Arena on Monday, December 20 to face Tusculum at 3 p.m.
- The 'Dogs return from holiday on Jan. 2, hitting the road to take on UVA Wise, starting a streak of four straight road games