Mars Hill, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs closed out the regular season in style, prevailing 71-58 at Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs improve to 19-9 overall and 14-8 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 5-24 overall and 2-20 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Wingate shot 43 percent from the field, going four-for-11 from three-point range (36 percent)
- Mars Hill shot 37 percent from the field, connecting on seven-of-31 from deep (23 percent)
- The 'Dogs held a 44-31 rebounding advantage and 9-7 edge in second-chance points
- The Bulldogs were 15-for-22 at the free throw line; the Lions went 11-for-15
- Wingate scored 15 points off 17 MHU turnovers
- The 'Dogs had a 40-26 edge in points in the paint

KEY BULLDOGS

- Laney Beale had 17 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal
- Kyleigh Bacon added 14 points and 10 rebounds
- Chi'Nya Isaac had 12 points, six boards and three steals
- Anasia Harvey contributed 11 points on four-of-six shooting
- Alexandra Merceron added eight points, six rebounds and two steals

FIRST QUARTER

- Isaac opened the scoring with a three, but a Jadyiah Peoples bucket tied it at five
- Wingate scored the next 11 to go on top 16-5 at the 5:39 mark
- Isaac had five points in the flurry; Beale added four points
- A Bethel Ekperigha jumper stretched the lead to 12
- A Jadein Haynes triple with 1:11 left cut it to seven at 21-14

SECOND QUARTER

- A Hayne three 90 seconds in pulled the Lions to within three
- WU scored the next nine, getting five points from Beale and four from Bacon to go on top 32-20
- Harvey's layup with four minutes to go gave the Bulldogs a 37-22 advantage
- Beale's free throw in the final second gave Wingate a 40-22 halftime lead

THIRD QUARTER

- A People jumper four minutes in cut the lead to eight at 41-33
- Beale's layup at the midway point pushed the lead back to double figures
- Free throws from Beale and Ekperigha put the 'Dogs on top 49-35 with 2:54 to go
- A Shyann McCummings layup with 41 seconds remaining cut the lead to nine
- Bacon's bucket in the final seconds gave Wingate a 55-44 lead

FOURTH QUARTER

- A Makayla Street layup three minutes into the final frame cut the lead to five
- The 'Dogs scored the next eight to stretch the lead back to 13 at 65-52
- Bacon and Laura Montiel each had a three-point play in the flurry
- Harvey's layup with two minutes left gave the Bulldogs a 70-54 advantage
- The lead never went below 13 the rest of the way

UP NEXT

- Wingate is the number six seed in the SAC Tournament
- The 'Dogs will face third-seeded Coker Thursday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. in the opening round
- The semifinals will be Friday at 2:30 p.m., with the title game Saturday at 1 p.m.
- Every game of the SAC Tournament will take place at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center