WINGATE, N.C. - In its season opener, the Newberry College women's basketball team used another impressive defensive performance to move past the Wingate Bulldogs. Newberry (6-1, 1-0 SAC) bullied Wingate (4-3, 0-1 SAC) and cruised to a 75-57 victory.
“This was a great way to open our conference season,” said Newberry head coach Sean Page. “We got some great individual efforts from our players, but also used contributions from the entire team that might not show up on the stat sheet.”
Newberry was clearly the better team in the opening minutes of the game, as the scarlet and gray kept the Bulldogs off of the scoreboard for over five minutes and claimed the first nine points of the game. Shortly thereafter, Newberry opened a 12-2 run that stretched the lead to 17 points.
The scarlet and gray eventually took a 35-20 lead into the locker room. Anita Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) was brilliant in the first half, ending the period only a point short of a double-double with 9 points and 11 rebounds.
Newberry opened the second half in a similarly-stellar fashion, quickly opening a 10-4 run to expand on their lead. The scarlet and gray would stretch their lead the farthest with 10:08 left in the game when they lead by 32.
The Bulldogs used some late runs to chip into the lead, but never again came close enough to give Newberry reason to worry.
Just like she did in the first half, Bulcher dominated the floor in the second. She ended the day with 18 points and 22 rebounds, good enough for her fifth consecutive double-double. Her 22 rebounds tie her for eighth place all-time at Newberry for rebounds in a single game.
Helen McKinney (Owensboro, Ky.) led all the scorers in the game with 22 points. Leanne Watson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) played well for Newberry as well, ending her night with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
“We did a lot of things really well tonight,” said Page, “but we still could be doing a few things better. It's still great for this program to go up to Wingate and get a win on the road.”
Newberry will break from conference action with a game at Lander on December 12.
