For the second time, AUTrojans.com is counting down Anderson University athletics' 25 most memorable games, matches and meets from the 2014-15 academic year. This season's countdown began on Monday, June 22 and will continue throughout the summer.

Be sure to check AUTrojans.com during the offseason to relive all the highlights of another successful year at Anderson.

Women's Basketball Claims Share of First Place with 68-57 Win over Wingate

February 7, 2015

ANDERSON, S.C. - After Wingate posted a 54.2 shooting percentage in the first half, Anderson University women's basketball held the Bulldogs to just 30 percent for the second half, as the Trojans picked up their 10th straight victory, 68-57, and moved into a tie for first place in the South Atlantic Conference standings Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center.

With the victory, AU moves to 17-3 on the season with a 14-2 mark in conference play, as it surpasses its win total from a season ago and claims its most triumphs since a 23-9 campaign in 2012-13. The win snaps Wingate's 12 straight victories, as moves to 16-7 overall with a 14-2 mark in the league, dropping into a tie for first with the Trojans.

Anderson finished the game shooting better than 40 percent, despite a 4-for-18 mark (22.2 percent) from behind the 3-point line. Leading the way, offensively, was junior forward Jennifer Monroe with 14 points and eight rebounds, while the duo of senior guard Sierra Simpson and junior Jasmine Franklin added 13 points with Franklin matching Monroe's total of rebounds with eight.

For the game, Anderson out-rebounded Wingate, 41-31, headlined by 14 offensive boards that led to 20 second-chance points. Sophomore Alexis Dillard corralled a game-high 11 rebounds with eight on the defensive end, while Monroe paced the club with five offensive boards.

As the teams traded buckets to begin the game, Simpson handed Anderson a narrow 8-7 lead with a lay-in. On the next possession, Wingate's Shelby Tricoli dropped in a lay-up that would give the visitors an advantage it would not give up for the remainder of the half. The Tricoli basket broke a scoring streak by Bulldog Andrea Bertrand, who tallied WU's first seven points of the contest.

Wingate would take leads of six, twice, followed by a nine-point lead at the 6:20 mark when Taylor Walker buried a 3-pointer from the wing, notching the Bulldogs' largest advantage of the game. With the momentum in favor of WU, Anderson began to inch itself back into contention, as Dillard and Monroe added back-to-back lay-ins to cut into the deficit.

Following a Dillard free throw, Wingate's Morgan McGee drained a trey from the top of the key to bring the AU deficit to seven with 4:39 left. The basket would be the final points the visitors would score in the period, as Franklin added a pair from the free throw line and senior Lesley Woods knocked in a corner trey to bring AU within two.

After WU's Chantal Dunbar fouled with 31 seconds remaining, Franklin set the halftime score with a two more free throws at 34-34. Anderson closed the half on a 7-0 run and held WU scoreless for the final 4:39 of the period.

The scoring stretch continued in the second half, as Woods capped off the run with a lay-in, sealing Anderson's first lead since Simpson's lay-in to make it 8-7. The teams continued to trade buckets after the Woods basket, playing to a 40-40 tie, followed by a 45-45 deadlock at the 11-minute mark.

The home side regained the lead when Woods sunk her final 3-pointer of the game from the top of the circle that would give Anderson a lead it would not relinquish. The trey began a 7-0 spurt by the Trojans, capped off by a driving lay-in from sophomore guard Heather Jankowy to put Anderson ahead at 52-45.

Wingate would come within three points, three times, in the final seven minutes, but the Black and Gold totaled six key made free throws down the stretch to the seal the conference win.

The Anderson offense made just six turnovers for the contest and forced 13 on the opposite end. The six turnovers marked the fewest under head coach Jimmy Garrity.

Wingate was led by Bertrand and McGee with 15 points apiece, while Tricoli added 11 points. After its stellar shooting in the first half, AU held the 'Dogs to just 30 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and just 1-of-6 from behind the arc.

Anderson hits the road for the first time in three games on Wednesday when it heads to Mars Hill. Tip-off from the Tar Heel State is slated for 6 p.m.

AUTrojans.com's Most Memorable Moments of 2014-15
25. Furtick Captures All-Tournament Honors at AU Invitational - Sept 9, 2014
24. Men's Cross Country Finishes Fifth at SAC Championships - Nov. 8, 2014
23. Merriman Earns All-Tournament Recognition at SAC Men's Golf Championships - April 21, 2015
22. Men's Basketball Edges Georgia College - Dec. 13, 2014
21. Women's Track and Field Finishes Fourth at SAC Championships - April 18, 2015
20. Baseball Claims 12-3 Win over Brevard in Opening Round of SAC Tournament - April 23, 2015
19. Volleyball Defeats Tusculum in Five Sets - Oct. 17, 2014
18. Women's Cross Country Finishes Third at SAC Championships - Nov. 8, 2014
17. Women's Basketball 68, Wingate 57 - Feb. 7, 2015