WINGATE, N.C. - The Newberry College women's basketball team picked up a crucial South Atlantic Conference road win as they took down second place Wingate, 66-50.

Senior guard Helen McKinney tied a career high with six three-point baskets made during her game high 28-point effort. But it was the Wolves' defense which gave the scarlet and gray back-to-back conference road wins as they held the Bulldogs to just 32 percent from the field.

“We came out and played probably our best full 40 minutes of the season,” said Newberry head coach Sean Page. “We played physical and I'm happy to see we're maturing and growing up as a team here in the home stretch. Our seniors are picking up the rest of the team and getting things done for us.”

Newberry (14-9, 9-6 SAC) came out of the gates swinging, picking up a five point lead after a pair of Keisha Henderson (Columbia, S.C.) free throws and the first McKinney triple of the night made it 5-0 in the early goings. Wingate (14-9, 9-6 SAC) picked up its lone lead of the game at the 16:16 mark of the first half on a Kurie Washington (Marion, N.C.) three-pointer, but the lead was quickly put to an end after Henderson put in another pair of freebies.

The Wolves held the Bulldogs scoreless for the final 6:22 of the first half and came out of the locker room with the same momentum, allowing Wingate just four field goals in the first eight minutes of the second half as Newberry cruised to its second straight double-digit point win.

“Our bench really stepped up for us big again,” added Page. “We went with a different line up for the second straight game and I think it's allowing some of our girls to get more rest and be more productive late in the game. Leanne Watson (Stone Mountain, Ga.), for example, picked up a double-double off the bench with 14 points and 10 rebounds.”

After being outscored 44-10 in the paint in their previous meeting, the Wolves held the Bulldogs to 30 points under the basket while putting in 24 of their own and outrebounding Wingate, 48-28.

McKinney's 28-points led all scorers with Watson's 14 being the second highest. Briana Johnson (Irmo, S.C.) led the Wolves in rebounding with 13 while Learra Creet (Brisbane, Australia) finished with seven of her own. As a team, Newberry shot 42.1 percent from the field and 12-of-15 from the free-throw line.

“We're playing well but we have to keep grinding it out,” said Page. “We have three left in the regular season and we need to set ourselves up well in the conference if we want to make a run at the championship.”

Newberry returns home after a short two game road trip to take on Carson-Newman on Saturday, Feb. 19, in Eleazer Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.