Mars Hill stuns Wingate in SAC thriller
The Mars Hill women's basketball team (3-21, 1-17 SAC) upset the visiting Wingate Bulldogs (14-11, 8-9 SAC) by a score of 58-55 Saturday afternoon inside Chambers Gymnasium.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill women's basketball team (3-21, 1-17 SAC) upset the visiting Wingate Bulldogs (14-11, 8-9 SAC) by a score of 58-55 Saturday afternoon inside Chambers Gymnasium.
A 21-point fourth quarter for the Lions clinched their first South Atlantic Conference victory of the season as Tatum Boggs recorded nine of her game-high 16 points. The Lions entered the frame down by two, but Hannah Chandler's jumper just 18 seconds into the fourth knotted the game at 39-all. The Bulldogs reeled off four straight points to regain the advantage with 8:50 to play.
Mars Hill tied and then regained the lead following two free throw makes from Boggs, who went a perfect 4-for-4 in the quarter from the line. Boggs' jumper on the next possession provided the Lions the necessary cushion to hold off Wingate in the final three minutes of play.
The first half saw a low scoring affair as the Lions entered the half down 21-20. The teams combined for just 18 points in the second quarter. In the first, the Lions jumped out to an 13-3 lead as De'Ja Marshall recorded 11 points in the run. Wingate closed out the frame by scoring seven straight points and entering the second down 13-10.
Wingate took their first lead on the day off of a Jaxson Douglas three-pointer with less than six minutes remaining in the half. Mars Hill battled back to take the lead, 20-17, with under four minutes to play in the stanza following an Alexis Pardue jumper, however, Wingate ended the half on a 4-0 run to carry the lead into halftime.
The Bulldogs built their lead to as many as six points in the third, going up 26-20 following a Hannah Clark layup. Mars Hill clawed back into the contest following five straight points and a jumper from Gabby Gianikos, however, Wingate responded with three straight to rebuild their four-point lead. Four straight points from Pardue tied the game at 35, but Wingate carried momentum into the final 10 minutes of play, going on a 4-2 run, leading 39-37.
Both Boggs and Pardue recorded 16 points on the day to pace the Lions' offense while Marshall ended the day with 13. Clark led the Bulldogs with 13 points followed by Bryanna Troutman's 12.
Mars Hill hosts Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, February 19 as they Play4Kay. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside Chambers Gymnasium.