Wingate Women Collect 67-59 Victory Over USC Upstate in NCAA South Atlantic Regional; Newberry Falls to Shaw
March 10, 2006

Courtesy Wingate University, Newberry College Sports Information Offices

Wingate 67, USC Upstate 59

Shaw 53, Newberry 50

Wingate 67, USC Upstate 59
Raleigh, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore guard Kate Edwards (Laurinburg, N.C.) hit a team-high 17 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 67-59 victory over the University of South Carolina Upstate Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional in Spaudling Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University.

Edwards hit five three-point field goals for Wingate (24-6 overall). The number two seed Bulldogs will play the winner of the Johnson C. Smith University/Clayton State University game Saturday at 3 p.m. USC Upstate completes the 2005-06 season 16-14 overall.

Wingate junior guard Tanetra Barrett (Marshville, N.C.) added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs, extending her streak of double-figure scoring games to 30. Bulldog freshman point guard Anna Atkinson (Marion, N.C.) had nine points and seven assists, while senior forward Shannon Proffit (Christchurch, New Zealand) contributed seven points and a career-high 15 rebounds.

For Upstate, senior center Yakeeshia Ross (Spartanburg, S.C.) had 19 points and 14 rebounds. Spartan senior forward Lele Miles (Naples, Fla.) had 11 points and 13 rebounds, while senior guard Toya Shuler (Reevesville, S.C.) chipped in 10 markers.

The Bulldogs led wire-to-wire against the Spartans. A three-point field goal by Edwards gave Wingate a 19-9 lead with 10:25 to play in the first half. Edwards scored 11 of her 17 points in the first half. She hit three trifectas before intermission. Wingate led 38-24 at the break. The Bulldogs are 19-2 overall this season when leading at halftime.

A traditional three-point field goal by junior forward Emily Paffrath (Bakersville, N.C.) put Wingate up 50-31 with 14:13 remaining in the contest. The 19-point advantage was Wingate’s largest of the afternoon.

Paffrath converted a put-back with 9:41 to go to give Wingate a 60-42 lead. The Bulldogs would go six-plus minutes without a field goal after Paffrath’s follow, giving Upstate an opportunity to rally.

The Spartans made a 10-1 run to trim the lead to nine (61-52) on a short jumper by freshman guard Ebony Johnson (Columbia, S.C.) with 3:55 to play. Upstate freshman guard Kristen Metcalf (Marion, N.C.) hit two three-point field goals during the 10-1 run.

Edwards iced the game with back-to-back three-pointers to stretch the Wingate lead to 67-52 with 2:51 left in the contest. USC Upstate would get no closer than the final margin the rest of the way.

The Bulldogs struggled from the field in the second half, converting only 25.8 percent (eight-of-31) of their field goals. For the game, Wingate hit 34.3 percent from the floor (23-of-67). Upstate fared only one percentage point better, hitting 35.3 percent from the floor Friday (24-of-68).

Thanks to Proffit’s huge day on the boards, Wingate outrebounded Upstate 52-43. Proffit was not the only person to record a career-high in rebounding Friday. Upstate’s Lele Miles also notched a career-best with her 13 boards.

WINGATE WOMEN 67, USC UPSTATE 59
USC UPSTATE (16-14) Ross, Yakeeshia 9-21 1-2 19; Miles, Lele 4-10 3-3 11; Shuler, Toya 4-9 0-0 10; Metcalf, Kristen 2-6 2-2 8; Johnson, Ebony 3-11 0-4 6; Blandin, Julia 1-4 1-4 3; Bradley, Courtney 1-5 0-0 2; Pallardy, Shannon 0-1 0-0 0; Thompson, Shavon 0-1 0-0 0; Porter, Shanita 0-0 0-0 0; Rizos, Christina 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-68 7-15 59.
WINGATE (24-6) Edwards, Kate 6-15 0-0 17; Barrett, Tanetra 3-12 5-6 11; Atkinson, Anna 3-11 2-3 9; Taylor, Veronica 3-7 3-4 9; Proffit, Shannon 3-6 0-0 7; Paffrath, Emily 2-7 3-5 7; Metzker, Kerri 2-3 0-0 4; Nagy, Petra 1-5 0-0 3; Byer, Lakin 0-1 0-0 0; West, Brittany 0-0 0-1 0; Mincey, Paige 0-0 0-0 0; Gillis, Kasey 0-0 0-0 0; Tucker, Leslie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-67 13-19 67.

USC Upstate................... 24 35 - 59 
Wingate....................... 38 29 - 67

3-point goals-USC Upstate 4-15 (Metcalf, Kristen 2-5; Shuler, Toya 2-4; Johnson, Ebony 0-3; Bradley, Courtney 0-3), Wingate 8-27 (Edwards, Kate 5-11; Proffit, Shannon 1-2; Atkinson, Anna 1-7; Nagy, Petra 1-3; Taylor, Veronica 0-1; Barrett, Tanetra 0-3). Fouled outUSC Upstate-None, Wingate-None. Rebounds-USC Upstate 43 (Ross, Yakeeshia 14), Wingate 52 (Proffit, Shannon 15). Assists-USC Upstate 12 (Bradley, Courtney 4; Shuler, Toya 4), Wingate 18 (Atkinson, Anna 7). Total fouls-USC Upstate 14, Wingate 13.

Shaw 53, Newberry 50
RALEIGH - Newberry tied the game at 43 with 5:17 remaining off a four-point possession, but in the end it was top-seeded Shaw that prevailed on its home court, 53-50, in the first round of the NCAA South Atlantic Regional Friday night at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.

Courtney Snowden (Augusta, Ga.) made a basket and was fouled to draw to 43-41. The free throw was missed, but Tygress Hope (Hepzibah, Ga.) collected the miss and tied the game. Shaw took a 49-45 lead, but Tonya Deese (Newberry, S.C.) scored on an inside move to draw within 49-47.

On the other end, Deese blocked a Bear attempt that gave Newberry the opportunity to tie or lead, but the Lady Indians committed turnovers on the next two possessions. Meanwhile, Shaw's Tavia McClendor took the second turnover the other way for a layup and a 51-47 lead. Natassia Boucicault made two free throws to increase the margin to six, and Tonique Frasier (Walterboro, S.C.) canned a three with 2.4 seconds left for the final margin.

Newberry held a trio of four-point leads near the halfway point of the second period. Ashlee Wright (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) scored four points, rebounded a miss, and had an assist during a crucial six minute stretch.

SHAW 53, NEWBERRY 50
NEWBERRY (18-13) Alexander, Monica 3-12 6-6 13; Deese, Tonya 5-7 2-3 12; Wright, Ashlee 4-9 0-0 9; Hope, Tygress 3-3 1-2 7; Frasier, Tonique 2-5 0-2 5; Snowden, Cortney 2-5 0-2 4; Marquardt, Laura 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 19-46 9-15 50.
SHAW (27-4) SOUTER,Nicky 5-10 2-5 12; ANDERSON,Leslee 4-10 2-2 11; BOUCICAULT,Nastassia 3-12 2-2 11; BRADFORD,Jenna 1-4 3-7 5; HARRELL,Carletta 2-8 0-0 5; EARLY,Chanae 2-12 0-0 5; CLEMENDOR,Tavia 2-11 0-0 4; BAILEY,Erika 0-5 0-2 0; COTHRAN,Natalia 0-1 0-0 0; BROWN,Tameka 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 19-76 9-18 53.

Newberry...................... 26 24 - 50 
Shaw.......................... 29 24 - 53