Rock Hill, S.C.----The awards continue to roll in for the 19th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs, with a pair of players earning All-Region accolades from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). Junior Leah Knowles is a first team All-Region selection, with senior Becca Ruiz earning second team honors.

Knowles is the first player in program history to earn first team All-Region honors. Last year she was one of three Bulldogs to earn second team accolades, becoming the first three players in program history to garner All-Region accolades. Both Knowles and Ruiz earn their second honor in as many days, with both players earning All-American accolades from USA Lacrosse Magazine on Wednesday.

Knowles adds this honor to an impressive junior season that saw her earn SAC Offensive Player of the Year honors to go along with first team all-conference accolades. The junior has done it all for #19 Wingate this season, leading the 'Dogs in goals (64), points (88), ground balls (46), draw controls (84) and caused turnovers (47) while ranking second on the team in assists (24). Knowles ranks sixth in the nation in CTs, while also ranking in the top 30 nationally in goals, goals per game, points and points per game. She has set the single-season program record for points, draw controls and caused turnovers. Knowles has multiple points in every game this season, notching five or more points in 12 of 18 games. She has also multiple draw controls in every game and multiple CTs in 16 contests. Knowles earned SAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2022.

Ruiz has had a big senior year for the Bulldogs, helping Wingate crack the IWLCA top 25 for the first time in program history and earn the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Ruiz has 44 goals and 13 assists to go along with 77 draw controls, 20 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. She ranks second on the team in goals, points and draw controls and fourth in assists. Ruiz has recorded multiple points in 16 of 18 games this year, including a four-game stretch late in the season that included three five-point efforts and a four-point performance. That included a big game against LR, going for four goals, an assist, seven draw controls and three caused turnovers.

The Bulldogs are back in action Friday afternoon, traveling to Charlotte for their first-ever NCAA Tournament game. Wingate will take on Florida Southern at 3 p.m. at the Queens Sports Complex. The winner advances to Sunday's region title game in Charlotte.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as eight master's and five doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 14 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.