Women's Basketball Holds Off Late Wingate Charge; Gets 26 Points From Ivanovic

SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba held off a late rally from visiting Wingate and posted a 64-59 win in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball action on Wednesday night at Goodman Gym.  The Catawba Indians got 26 points from Milica Ivanovic (Belgrade, SERBIA/Sports High/Bethel) in improving to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in the SAC.  The Bulldogs fall to 7-5 and 1-2.

Wingate’s Kurie Washington (Marion, NC) tossed in 25 for the Bulldogs, joining Ivanovic as the game’s only double-digit scorers.  Catawba’s Dana Hicks (York, SC/Gaston Day) grabbed 14 rebounds for Catawba, while Stacie Rhodes (Knightdale, NC) pulled down 11 for the Bulldogs and also blocked seven shots.  Erica Crumlin (Irmo, SC) added six blocked shots for Wingate, who swatted a season-high 14 Catawba attempts.

Catawba held a 58-48 lead with 2:11 remaining following a three-pointer by Ivanovic, but Wingate staged a rally that gave them several chances to tie the contest in the waning moments.  Washington scored five straight to cut the deficit to 58-53 with 1:18 to go.  Nisha Long (Dallas, NC/Gaston Day) had two free throws with 54 seconds left for a 60-53 edge.

Wingate got a put-back from Rhodes and a jumper by Washington after a Catawba turnover to pull the Bulldogs within 60-57 with 30 seconds left.  Washington failed to complete a three-point play, but another Catawba turnover returned the ball to Wingate.  The Bulldogs missed a three-pointer and a follow shot and Ivanovic hit two free throws with 18 seconds left for a 62-57 edge.

Sarah Wollett (Raleigh, NC) connected on a jumper with 12 seconds left to reduce the margin again to three and another Catawba turnover gave Wingate one last chance.  The Bulldogs would miss one shot then suffer a turnover of their own after a rebound and Kisha Long (Dallas, NC/Gaston Day) finally salted the game away for Catawba.

The Lady Indians seized control of the game midway through the second half as they turned a 39-33 deficit into a 47-40 lead with 8:21 remaining.  Brooke Whitley (New London, NC/N. Stanly HS) started things with a three-pointer, while Ivanovic added seven points in the 14-1 run.   

Catawba pushed the advantage to 55-44 on two free throws by Maggie Sullivan (Fort Mill, SC/Charlotte Christian HS) with 3:58 to play.  The 11-point bulge was the Tribe’s biggest lead of the evening.  Washington answered with a field goal on the next trip down the floor, ending an 11-minute field goal drought for the visitors.

Catawba hit only 30 percent from the field (18-of-60), hitting just nine-of-30 attempts in each half.  The Lady Indians did well from long range, making six-of-11 trifectas (54.5 percent) and also converted 22-of-26 (84.6%) at the line.  Wingate fell off from 42% shooting in the first half to only 34% in the second half. Nisha Long had eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals for Catawba.

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