GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Anderson University women's basketball team held on for a 62-60 win over the Wingate Bulldogs, earning the 2019 South Atlantic Conference Pilot Flying J Women's Basketball Championship on Sunday (March 10). SAC Championship Most Valuable Player, Alexy Mollenhauer, led the way for the Trojans with 17 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
The Trojans jumped out to an early lead in the first half, heading to the locker room with a comfortable 36-28 lead. However, Wingate came out of the break firing on all cylinders and trimmed the lead to just five points, 53-48 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Black and Gold extended the lead to 60-48 in the opening six minutes of the final quarter, but the Bulldogs bounced back with 10-0 run in the final four minutes, making it a two-point game, 60-58, with 38 seconds left. Anderson held on down the stretch to take home the championship, 62-60.
Anderson's Ace Easter finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while Cassie Ketchum had 11 points and three rebounds.
Caroline Averette led the way for Wingate with 17 points and six rebounds, while Teliyah Jeter also had 17 points and five rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Bulldogs was Courtney Robinson with 13 points.
The 2019 SAC Pilot Flying J Women's Basketball All-Tournament Team was also announced. The team is as follows:
Emily Griffith, Lincoln Memorial
Courtney Robinson, Wingate
Caroline Averette, Wingate
Ace Easter, Anderson
Alexy Mollenhauer, Anderson – MVP
With the win, the Trojans earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship. The final NCAA pairing will be announced tonight at 10 pm on NCAA.com.