Postgame Interview

Hickory, N.C.-- Four Bears reached double figures Wednesday evening in the Shu, but the Bears fell late to Wingate 66-61. Nakia Hooks and Kennedy Weigt lead the Bears with 14 points while freshman Blaikley Crooks added a career-high 12 points and four assists.

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Wingate 66, Lenoir-Rhyne 61
Records: Wingate (4-5. 4-4 SAC) | Lenoir-Rhyne (1-7, 1-7 SAC)
Location: Shuford Gymnasuim

STATS AND INFO:
-This is the Bears first of a four-game in eight-day stretch. Bears will travel to Coker on Saturday before hosting Queens on Monday and Mars Hill next Wednesday. 
-Freshman Emily Harman keeps being impressive. Harman enters tonight contest as the only player in the SAC averaging at least 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3.5  assists per game. 
-With Wingate's win tonight, The Bulldogs have now won 9 of 10 against the Bears. 
-With the SAC schedule shortened this year to 20 games, this is the only matchup between these two rivals this year. The Bears are not scheduled to travel to Wingate 
-After playing five of their first seven games on the road, Bears will stay in Hickory to play four out of their next five at home, including tonights game. 

FIRST HALF:
-Both teams went deep into their bench in the first half, LR played 10 players while Wingate had 13 different players see action in the first half.
-Wingate came out shooting 45.5% in the first quarter while LR started cold shooting 2-11 in the first quarter but that flipped in the second quarter as the Bears got hot shooting 8-15 (53.3%) in the second quarter while the Bulldogs went ice cold and finished the quarter 2-14 (14.3%).
-After trailing 12-8 after one, The Bears got red hot in the second quarter, Bears used a 9-2 run to take the lead, 3-pointers by Crooks and Harman sparked the Bears and helped them take a six point lead at the break. 
-Both team turned the ball over 10 times in the first half but the Bears held the advantage scoring 13 points off the turnovers compare only to four for the Bulldogs. 

SECOND HALF:
-Wingate came out of the half shooting 60% from the floor. Peyton Davis hit all three of her threes in the second half and Bryanna Troutman scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half to help the Bulldogs take the lead from the Bears.  Wingate out scored the Bears 20-10 in the third period. 
-Wingate was aggressive in the second half getting to the free throw line 16 times in the half and shooting 20-24 for the game.  Wingate had a 20-9 advantage on the Bears on made free throws. 
-Alyssa Wagner sparked the Bears in the 4th quarter, scoring all seven of her points in the quarter. (3-4 shooting)
-Bears had chances to tie and take the lead late, WIth Wingate leading 62-61 and with under :30 seconds left, Kennedy Weigt drove through the lane but missed the layup, Nakia Hooks grabbed the offense rebound but missed the put back. Then after Wingate hit both of their free throws. Weigt's missed a potential game-trying three-point with 3 seconds left. 

ABOUT THE BEARS:
-Freshman Blaikley Crooks and Sophomore Sydney Wilson both got their first career start for the Bears tonight.  
-Sophomore Nakia Hooks saw her first action of the season for the Bears off the bench. Hooks finished with a team-high 14 points and 4 rebounds in 24 minutes of action. 
-LR had a balance attack with four in double figures. Weight had 14 points along with Hooks and Crooks and Emily Harman had a dozen a piece. 
-Crooks 12 points were a career high for the freshman. Crooks has been in double figures in 4 out of the last 5 games. The freshman also added a career high 4 assists for the Bears. 
-Harman keeps doing it all for the Bears, Harman finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals playing all 40 minutes once again. 
-Weigt four 3-pointers tonight moves her one away from tie the school record for most 3-pointers made in a career. Weigt will look to tie and break the record Saturday at Coker. 

NOTABLE BULLDOGS:
-Bryanna Troutman has her second double-double of the year finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. 6 of her 10 rebounds were on the offensive side. 
-Haleigh Hatfield, A SAC player of the week winner this year, finished with 7 points, 5 rebounds and added 3 steals in 37 minutes. 
-Wingate shot 83.3% from the charity stripe, finishing the night 20 from 24. 

UP NEXT: Bears will travel to Coker for a 2:00 PM tip-off on Saturday.