By Allison Smith
Staff Writer
The Wingate Women’s basketball team defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 73-70 in Cuddy Arena tonight. The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears opened the game with the first score off of a Wingate foul. The Bears gradually increased their score on four almost back to back layups by sophomore guard Cameron Sealey, senior center Denise Moore, and senior guard Amber Holt. The Bears increased their lead to 13 points at 7:16 left in the half until Wingate went on a three minute unanswered run. The run was lead by a baseline jumper by sophomore guard/forward Kurie Washington, four additional points by freshman forward Tish Logan and two sunk free throws for junior forward CC Brooks to cut the Bears lead to 23-20 with 3:10 remaining in the half. The Bulldogs pushed forward using a Lenoir-Rhyne technical to their advantage tying the game 26-26 with 12 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs entered the locker room at the half with a two point lead 28-26.
The second half started off similar to the first with Lenoir-Rhyne jumping ahead on a 10-0 lead that was not broken until freshman guard Sarah Wollett shot her one for two free throws at 17:08, changing the score to 36-29 Lenoir-Rhyne. The bulldogs however, showed great resilience in the second half by challenging the Lenoir-Rhyne lead and fighting all the way at 12:05 when senior forward Erica Crumlin’s foul shots allowed Wingate to take the lead 43-42. Lenoir-Rhyne took the lead right back from the bulldogs and kept the lead until 2:41 left in the second half when Wingate regained its second lead for the night. Wingate did not lose the lead for the rest of the game. Washington increased the lead to 73-67 off of two free throws with 9.8 seconds remaining. Senior guard Jami Safrit for Lenoir-Rhyne sunk a three with 2.8 seconds remaining in the game but the Wingate bulldogs were too far ahead of the bears and ended the game with a 73-70 win.
The dual between the bulldogs and the bears was both physical and intense. Both teams came into the game with high stakes. Lenoir Rhyne was tied for first place in the South Atlantic Conference and the bulldogs were ready to ruin their run for first. Both teams accumulated many fouls and trips to the free throw line. Lenoir-Rhyne had a technical at 9:07 in the first half, committed by senior guard Brittany Mitch and again at 31.9 seconds remaining in the first half by Safrit. When asked about the physicality of the game, Coach Barbara Nelson said “I think people think they can bully us but we can bully right back.”
Senior center Stacie Rhodes and Washington had outstanding performances for the bulldogs. Rhodes contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks and Washington had 24 points. When asked about the win Rhodes said, “It was a huge win and the team really came together tonight.” Rhodes also stated that she was proud of her team for their resilience and perseverance in the second half. “It was a game of runs and we came creeping up at the end. The second half would go up and down but at the end we made the huge plays to win.”
Coach Nelson said after the game that she was very impressed with her team tonight. “We showed maturity and composure. Stacie stepped up as a leader and the freshmen are really growing up.” Nelson and the bulldogs hope to fuel their winnings through the defeat of Lenoir-Rhyne tonight and carry it over to Saturday’s game at Lincoln Memorial.
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