Wingate, N.C. - The Wingate University Women's Basketball Team (8-5, 3-2) defeated Lenoir-Rhyne University (5-7, 2-2) by a 78-73 score Wednesday afternoon in a South Atlantic Conference contest at Cuddy Arena.

Wingate's CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) finished with a team-high 16 points and was one of four Bulldogs to score in double figures in the victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne freshman guard Caroline Laughter (Hickory, N.C.) led all scorers with a career-high 20 points while junior guard Cameron Sealey (Mount Holly, N.C.) added 16 points and a team-high six rebounds in the losing effort.

A field goal by L-R freshman forward Whitney Brinkley (Asheville, N.C.) gave the Bears a 22-12 advantage with 11:43 remaining in the first half but the Bulldogs rallied to take a 43-39 lead going into intermission.

Wingate extended the margin to 74-64 with 4:50 left in regulation before Lenoir-Rhyne rallied to cut the deficit to 76-73 on a lay-up by Sealey with 1:02 remaining.

The Bears then had a chance to tie but turned the ball over with 23 seconds left and the Bulldogs sank two free throws to make it a five-point final.

Freshman guard Danielle Bongiorno (Wilmington, N.C.) added 10 points off the bench for the Bears, who hit seven three-pointers in the loss.

Wingate's Simone Rutledge (Atlanta, Ga.) added 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds as the Bulldogs held a 43-30 advantage on the boards.

Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Brevard, N.C., to take on Brevard in a South Atlantic Conference game Saturday at 2:00 p.m.? Wingate, meanwhile, plays at league-foe Mars Hill Saturday at 2:00 p.m., as well.