Women's Basketball Drops Road Contest to Wingate

WINGATE, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball team lost to Wingate by a final of 97-46 on Saturday afternoon inside Cuddy Arena. The Lions dropped to 3-15 overall and 1-11 in the South Atlantic Conference, while Wingate improved to 13-4 overall and 9-3 within the league.

Aliyah Farmer led the Lions on the afternoon with team-highs in points (14) and rebounds (6), while Jenny Edwards was the only other Mars Hill player to reach double-figures, chipping in 11. As a team the Lions shot 29.1% (16-55) from the field and was beat on the boards, 43-25.

After a jumper in the paint by Farmer knotted the contest at five each early, Wingate used an 8-0 run over the next four minutes to earn a comfortable 13-5 lead heading into the first media timeout of the contest. The two teams traded baskets coming out of the break before MHU collected four straight to pull within four points (15-11) with just over a minute to play in the opening period. Four straight from the home team gave the Bulldogs a 19-11 spread after one.

Wingate opened the second quarter with a 12-2 burst to expand the lead to 31-13 with six minutes left before halftime. That lead grew to as many as 21 points as WU outscored the Lions in the second quarter 23-10, taking a 42-21 lead into the locker room.

The third quarter started just as the second as Wingate reeled off seven straight to blow the lead all the way to 49-21. Edwards was able to convert an and-one on the Lions' next possession, narrowing the deficit to 49-24 with 7:48 remaining. However, that was as close as MHU got in the third as Wingate throttled the Lions 26-9 in the quarter to control the contest 68-30 leading into the final stanza.

That deficit proved to be too much to overcome as Wingate finished the contest with a dominant 97-46 win. Wingate held massive advantages in points in the paint (52-22) and bench points (39-18) to lead to the win.

Danasia Witherspoon led the Bulldogs with a game-high 22 points, while Marta Miscenko and Shelby Tricoli chipped in 15 and 14 points, respectively. Wingate shot 55.7% from the field, including 5-of-9 from behind the arc.

The Lions will return to action Wednesday, January 25 as they travel to Anderson, S.C. to take on the Trojans. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.