WINGATE, N.C. - The Anderson University women's basketball team rallied to trim a late second-half 13-point deficit to just six with 22 seconds left, but top-seeded Wingate converted just enough free throws in the final moments to claim a 64-58 win past the Trojans in the first round of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament.
Anderson's season ends at 10-18, while Wingate (20-7) advances to face fifth-seeded Carson-Newman in Saturday's semifinals.
A lay-up by Wingate senior guard Tiffany Brown on a feed from Nikki Burton concluded the first-half scoring and gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the first frame. Junior forward Tilde Ahlin led the Trojans with her 10 first-half points.
Two free throws by senior forward Simone Rutledge gave Wingate a 39-26 advantage with 16:43 remaining in the contest. But Anderson made a huge push, draining three consecutive three-point field goals to cut the deficit to just 39-35 on a 3-pointer by junior guard Amanda Parris at the 14:35 mark.
Parris started and finished the 9-0 flurry with three-point baskets. Sarah Wollett ended a four-minute Bulldog field goal drought with a triple at the 13:17 plateau to end the AU run and make the score 42-35 Wingate.
A Dunbar jumper on an assist from sophomore guard Janitsha Williams gave the Bulldogs a 53-39 lead and concluded a 14-4 run for the hosts. The 14-point bulge was Wingate's largest lead of the evening.
Anderson didn't quit, cutting the deficit to five in the final minute of play. Ahlin hit a triple with 22 seconds left to make things interesting. The forward hit two three-pointers in each half.
Wingate out-rebounded Anderson 39-26, led by eight boards from junior forward Tish Logan. Anderson junior forward Breonda Shannon had eight rebounds to lead the Trojans.
The Bulldogs shot 38.6 percent from the floor (22-of-57), while the Trojans converted on 42 percent of their field goal attempts (21-of-50). Anderson drained seven three-pointers in 19 tries (36.8 percent), while Wingate converted four-of-nine triples (44.4 percent).
Anderson junior guard Alissa Diaz led the Trojans with 19 points, while Ahlin added 18 points on the strength of four three-pointers.
