Wingate, N.C.—-Wingate University junior guard scored a game-high 25 points, boosting the Bulldogs to a 84-53 South Atlantic Conference women's basketball victory over UVA Wise at Cuddy Arena on Senior Day, clinching at least a share of the league title. The 17th-ranked Bulldogs improve to 22-3 overall and 20-2 in the SAC, while UVA Wise slips to 10-15 overall and 10-12 in league play.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate shot 46 percent from the field; UVA Wise made 33 percent of its attempts
- The Bulldogs made six-of-21 from three-point range (29 percent); the Cavaliers were two-for-21 (10 percent) from deep
- UVAW was a perfect seven-for-seven from the foul line, while WU was 14-of-21 (67 percent) from the charity stripe
- The 'Dogs dominated the glass, holding a 51-35 advantage in rebounds
- WU scored 23 second-chance points compared to Wise's 10
- Wingate out-scored the Cavs 48-36 in the paint
- The Bulldogs turned 19 Wise turnovers into 32 points
- WU outscored UVAW 17-2 in the second quarter
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Clark poured in 25 points on eight-of-14 shooting and a perfect eight-for-eight from the foul line along with four assists
- Haleigh Brandon posted a double-double of 13 points and 17 rebounds with three assists
- Bryanna Troutman had 13 points and nine boards
- Jaia Wilson contributed 11 points, four assists and three rebounds
 
NOTES
 
- Wingate clinches at least a share of the SAC regular season title; the Bulldogs can clinch the outright title with a win in either of their final two regular-season games
- First regular season title for the women's basketball program since the 2013-14 season
- 20 conference wins matches the best mark all-time in the SAC
- WU improves to 4-2 all-time versus UVA Wise
- The 'Dogs are 2-1 in Cuddy Arena against the Cavs
- Brandon's eighth double-double of the season
- UVA Wise's 9.5 percent is the lowest Wingate has held an opponent this season from deep
 
FIRST QUARTER
 
- Wingate led 9-2 after the first three minutes after a Lauren Sullivan three-pointer
- UVA Wise cut its deficit to five with 5:44 remaining in the quarter
- The Bulldogs responded with a 12-3 run over three-plus minutes to take a 23-9 lead with two minutes to go in the quarter
- WU scored 25 points in the first quarter for the second consecutive game, leading by 12 after 10 minutes
 
SECOND QUARTER
 
- The 'Dogs scored the opening 17 points of the second quarter; in all, it was a 19-0 run dating back to the end of the first quarter
- Buckets from Wilson, Maeola Willis and two from Clark gave Wingate a 20-point lead with 6:32 remaining
- The lead got to as high as 29 in the first half, when Brandon's jumper made the score 42-13
- Just 28 seconds from pitching a shutout in the quarter, the Cavaliers' Kalee Johnson hits a jumper for Wise's first points of the period
 
THIRD QUARTER
 
- After an opening UVAW bucket to start the second half, back-to-back threes from Brandon and Clark gave the Bulldogs their first 30-point lead of the game at 48-17
- The Cavs cut the deficit to 28 points, but WU responded with 7-0 run to take a 55-20 lead with 6:10 to go in the quarter
- Peyton Davis' free throw gave the 'Dogs their second 25-point quarter of the game, taking a 67-32 advantage into the final quarter
 
FOURTH QUARTER
 
- Brandon's and-one gave Wingate its first 40-point lead of the game at 74-34
- Troutman's layup made the score 78-36, the Bulldogs' largest lead of the game
- UVA Wise ended the game on a 17-6 run
- The win marked WU's sixth win or 30 or more points this season
 
UP NEXT
 
- The Bulldogs wrap up their regular season home slate with a matchup with 22nd-ranked Catawba on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
- Wingate's regular season finale is at Queens on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.