Sunday, March 9, 2008

WINGATE EDGES TUSCULUM 76-74 TO WIN SAC TOURNAMENT TITLE

HICKORY, N.C. -- Senior guard Kasey Gillis (Indian Trail, N.C.) drained two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to give the Wingate women's basketball team a 76-74 victory over top-seed Tusculum in the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship game at the Catawba Valley Community College Multipurpose Complex. The Bulldogs claim their sixth Food Lion SAC tournament title.

Wingate improves to 23-7 overall on the year, while winning its eighth straight game. The Bulldogs secure a bid to the NCAA Division II tournament. The Pioneers fall to 26-4 overall, as Tusculum sees an 11-game winning streak end Sunday. Tusculum will learn its NCAA tournament fate later Sunday evening.

Bulldog senior guard Kate Edwards (Laurinburg, N.C.) led the way with 18 points for the Bulldogs, going 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Freshman forward Stefani Shuey (Charlotte, N.C.) added a career-high 15 points and 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Sophomore center Erica Crumlin (Irmo, S.C.) also posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Crumlin blocked three shots, including a crucial rejection in the waning moments.

Wingate junior point guard Anna Atkinson (Marion, N.C.) added 13 points and seven assists. The 2008 SAC Player of the Year, Atkinson was named the MVP of the tournament. Edwards was also named to the all-tournament team.

Tusculum junior guard Ashli Oliver (Kokomo, Ind.) led the Pioneers with a game-high 22 points, while hitting 6-of-11 three point attempts. TC junior guard Nikki Van Dine (Columbus, Ohio) added 17 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore forward Stephany Neptune (Wallkill, N.Y.) had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Oliver and TC freshman point guard Jasmine Gunn (Memphis, Tenn.) earned all-tournament honors, along with Newberry College senior forward Tonique Frasier (Walterboro, S.C.).

Ashli Oliver drained a three to give Tusculum a 74-71 lead at the 1:12 mark. Wingate responded, getting a three from Atkinson to tie the game with 52 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs then forced a turnover, setting up Gillis to hit the game-winners.
Tusculum had two close-range shots in the last 10 seconds, but neither connected. Crumlin blocked the second try to preserve the Bulldog victory.

Wingate used an early 8-0 run to turn a four-point deficit into a 15-11 lead at the 14:20 mark. Gillis and Edwards had three points each in the quick flurry. A three-pointer and free throw from Edwards extended the lead to 19-13 with 13 minutes remaining.

The Pioneers would go on a 6-0 spurt later in the half to regain the lead. Neptune had four of the points, including a pair of free throws at the 6:41 mark to put Tusculum ahead 24-23. Wingate responded with an 11-2 run, getting a three-pointers from Edwards and junior guard Brittany West (Valdese, N.C.) as they built a 36-30 lead at the three minute mark. Ashli Oliver responded with a three, helping the Pioneers cut the deficit to 38-35 heading into intermission.

A three from Atkinson, followed by a lay-up from freshman guard CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) gave the Bulldogs a 53-43 edge with 13:46 remaining. The Pioneers quickly trimmed the deficit to five, getting a three from Ashli Oliver and a pair of free throws from freshman guard Brittni Oliver (Kokomo, Ind.) to make it 53-48 at the 12-minute mark.

The Wingate lead stayed between five and eight points over the next several minutes. With Wingate ahead by seven, the Pioneers scored five points in 30 seconds, sparked by a three from Van Dine, to cut the Wingate lead to 61-59 at the 6:29 mark. Another three from Van Dine at the 5:29 mark gave the Pioneers their first lead of the second half at 64-63.

The teams traded baskets and leads down the stretch. A Van Dine lay-up at the 3:27 plateau gave Tusculum a 69-67 lead. Lay-ups from Shuey and Atkinson put the Bulldogs back on top 71-69 with 1:54 to go. The Pioneers had the answer, getting a lay-up from Neptune to tie the game at 71. Neptune's inside hoop set the stage for an exciting final minute.

The Bulldogs were 28-of-64 (43.8 percent) from the field, while going eight-of-12 from beyond the arc (66.7 percent). Tusculum was 24-of-65 (36.9 percent) from the floor, while hitting 9-of-27 three point attempts (33.3 percent). The Pioneers were 17-of-18 (94.4 percent) from the free throw stripe, while the Bulldogs were 12-for-15 (80 percent).

Wingate held a 42-36 rebounding advantage, thanks in large part to double-digit rebounds by Crumlin and Shuey. The Bulldogs also held a 34-20 edge in points in the paint and a 17-8 advantage in fast-break points.

This was Tusculum’s second trip to the SAC Tournament final in the last three years.

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