Gaffney, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 72-62 victory on the road against the Limestone University Saints in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the 'Dogs head into the postseason on a 10-game winning streak, a 21-6 overall record, and a 14-4 conference mark. The loss sends the Saints into the SAC tournament at an even 14-14 overall record and 9-9 SAC record. 
 
KEY STATS
 
- Wingate shot 44 percent from the field; Limestone hit 43 percent of its shots
- The 'Dogs made seven-of-22 three-pointers, while the Saints had a seven-20 mark from deep
- WU dominated the glass, out-rebounding LU 45-28 and adding 14 second-chance points
- Wingate scored 11 points off of 13 Limestone turnovers
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Bryanna Troutman had seasons highs of 29 points and 21 rebounds, going 12-for-17 from the field
- Hannah Clark put in 21 points of her own with four three-pointers, adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal
- Lauren Sullivan matched a career-high with 14 rebounds, adding three points and three assists
- Emily Hege also got into double-digit scoring with 10 points, going seven from the free-throw line, and swiping two steals
 
FIRST QUARTER
 
- Sullivan hit a three to score the first points of the game
- Limestone got off to a quick start with an 8-0 run, fueled by Mary Davis and Shaniya Caldwell hitting triples
- Hege and Clark buried threes to put the 'Dogs on top midway through the quarter at 9-8
- A defensive quarter continued, with Wingate forcing Limestone to come up empty on four of five trips down the floor out of the break
- A late Troutman layup gave WU a 14-13 lead after the first period
 
SECOND QUARTER
 
- Troutman scored the first six Wingate points in the second quarter in another defensive start to the period, with a three-point play into the media timeout giving the 'Dogs a 20-19 lead 
- The two teams traded the lead late in the period as Jaia Wilson and Leah Barringer got on the scoresheet with a jumper and three, respectively 
- Limestone was able to tie the game at 29 ahead of halftime after a Caldwell jumper at the end of the period
 
THIRD QUARTER 


- Clark put in WU's first five points of the half to keep the game close early in the third quarter
- Quin Byrd and Destiny Jackson bounced back for the Saints to jump in front of the Bulldogs after three minutes at 35-32
- From that point on, Wingate went on a 12-4 run to finish the period over the final six minutes of the third quarter
- Troutman scored six points in the stretch and Laney Beale got in the box score with her first points
- Hege and Clark finished the quarter with free throws to take a 46-41 lead to the final quarter
 
FOURTH QUARTER 


- Wingate kept up the pressure to start the final period with a 5-0 run; Clark's three forced a Limestone timeout with a 51-41 advantage 
- The timeout served the Saints well as they stormed back with an 8-2 run, highlighted by a Reagan McCray four-point play.
- Clark continued her strong second-half performance with a triple followed by a Troutman layup
- The score stayed tight late in the game, as the Saints went on a 7-2 run to trim the lead to only four points at 64-60 with two minutes left
- Wingate locked down the win with a strong finish sparked by Clark and Hege making important free throws, putting the game out of reach in a 72-62 win
 
UP NEXT


- Wingate hosts a SAC Tournament Quarterfinal contest at Cuddy Arena on Wednesday night
- The 'Dogs welcome Lincoln Memorial to town for a 7 p.m. start
- The winner advances to the SAC semifinals Saturday in Greenville, S.C.