JT Stokes, Staff Writer
Marta Miscenko’s 28 point effort pushes #21 Wingate (19-3, (13-2 SAC) to a 70-59 SAC victory over LMU (13-10, 9-8 SAC).
Wingate won their eighth straight game thanks to efforts from Wingate University senior center Marta Miscenko, who recorded her 22nd career double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Bulldogs in another South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball victory over Lincoln Memorial University Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena.
The defending South Atlantic Conference tournament champions are undefeated at home with a 12-0 record during the 2017-18 season. Bulldog juniors Caroline Averette, Danasia Witherspoon, and Courtney Robinson combined for 31 points in the win.
For Lincoln Memorial, junior guard Emily Griffith had 17 points. Freshman center Cameryn DuBose matched Miscenko’s double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Shea Coker contributed 11 points in the loss.
Box Score Notables
LMU lead Wingate 44-43 at the end of the third quarter. Wingate outscored LMU 27-15 in the fourth quarter.
Miscenko had 13 points alone in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs shot 80 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter.
LMU shot 26 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter.
Wingate outrebounded LMU 41-32. Witherspoon had nine rebounds.
The game changed leads eight times.
What happened
First Quarter: LMU led Wingate 16-14 after the first quarter. Wingate went only 4-of 22 from the floor shooting a low 18.2 percent. The first quarter alone had four tie scores and four lead changes.
Second Quarter: Lincoln Memorial gained an eight point advantage in the first minutes in the second quarter, which was LMU’s biggest lead of the afternoon. Wingate outscored LMU 11-2 to end the second quarter putting the Bulldogs up 30-28 at halftime. Miscenko lead the way with 11 points in the first half.
Third Quarter: Wingate added to their halftime lead by scoring the first 6 points of the period. LMU responded immediately scoring eight unanswered points to tie the game 36-36 on a three-point field goal by junior guard Rachel Griffith. LMU outscored the Bulldogs to make the score 44-40 LMU with 1:24 to go but Wingate junior guard Taylor Helms answered with a three-point field goal on the other end to finish the scoring in the third.
Fourth Quarter: A strong fourth quarter ended the game for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs responded went on a 10-0 run, concluded by two Witherspoon free throws with 3:18 left, which gave Wingate its largest lead of the afternoon at 61-47. LMU would not get within seven points in the final stretch and Miscenko made five-of-six field goals and three-of-four free throws in the fourth quarter to help the Bulldogs turn the tide.
“Once again, the second effort was strong. Marta came alive in the second half and gave them some problems. We did a good job of getting her the ball where she could be successful. Winning the boards and getting to the line was big. Every game is important and this one was no different. We know winning at home is crucial,” Wingate Head Coach Ann Hancock said.
“Our team really comes alive in the fourth quarter defensively. We feel like there’s a certain sense of urgency that our team has. We were able to buckle down and get a good win,” Marta Miscenko said.
Wingate will be on the road against the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (14-11, 8-9 SAC) on Wednesday, February 14th at 6 pm.
Edited by Brendan Shriver
Wingate Triangle 