WINGATE, N.C. -- The Trojans were unable to overcome a sluggish
start, as Wingate downed Anderson, 76-51, in non-conference women's
basketball action Wednesday night at Cuddy Arena. Wingate improved
to 5-3 with the win, while Anderson dropped to 3-3 overall and had
its three-game win streak halted. Anderson, playing for the first
time in 11 days, opened a three-game road swing by falling behind
19-6 in the first six minutes of action. But the Trojans battled
back, going on 10-0 outburst, with Alissa Diaz triggering the run
with a short jumper off a fast break and Amanda Parris followed
with a 3-pointer. Alexa Neal then scored five unanswered points on
a layup then a trey, cutting the deficit to just three midway
through the opening half. But it was as close as the Trojans would
get, as Wingate took advantage of AU miscues and pushed out to a
15-point cushion over the next nine minutes and held a 42-32 lead
at halftime. "It was very disappointing tonight," said Anderson
head coach Jim Brunelli. "We were not ready to play and it showed."
Neal scored a team-high 17 points, while Maci Siniard added 14
points and grabbed five rebounds in 24 minutes of action. Diaz
collected a team-best six rebounds. Anderson visits Newberry in the
middle contest of its three-game road swing as the Trojans visit
the scarlet and gray on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled
for 2 p.m. at Eleazer Arena.