WINGATE, N.C. - Despite a career-high 29-point scoring effort from junior guard Alissa Diaz, the Anderson University women's basketball team wrapped up its brief two-game South Atlantic Conference road swing with a 61-51 setback at Wingate Wednesday night at Cuddy Arena.

Anderson (6-11, 3-6 SAC) suffered its third consecutive loss, while Wingate improved to 12-5 overall and 6-3 in league action by winning its fifth straight.

AU battled back from a nine point deficit early in the second half to knot the score for just the third time of the contest at 41-41 with 8:33 left, but Wingate countered with a 14-2 run over the next six minutes to gain a double-digit margin with less than three minutes remaining in the game.

Trailing, 34-25, at the 16:57 mark of the second half, Diaz knocked down her career-high fourth 3-pointer to spark the rally and guard Amanda Parris followed with another trey to pull the Trojans within 34-31. Diaz fueled the comeback with nine of her game-high output during the seven-minute span and forward Breonda Shannon's jumper tied the score at 41 apiece.

However, the Trojans suffered a drought of nearly five minutes, misfiring on five shots and committing a pair of turnovers, with Wingate capitalizing to score eight unanswered points as part of the final run.

The Bulldogs connected on six-of-eight free throws in the final moments to thwart a comeback attempt.

Anderson freshman guard Sierra Simpson scored the first basket of the night, giving the Trojans what turned out to be their only lead of the game. AU fell behind, 10-2, inside the opening four minutes of action as AU misfired on seven of its first eight shots, but Anderson battled back with a 7-2 run, as Diaz and junior forward Tilde Ahlin fueled the surge.

But the Bulldogs maintained the advantage and led, 25-22 at the half.

Diaz finished with her first career double-double, pulling down a career-best 10 rebounds to go along with her scoring effort. Shannon added six points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Ahlin netted six points and grabbed six rebounds.

Wingate sophomore guard Nikki Burton lead all scorers with 23 points and recorded 12 rebounds.

The Trojans open the second half of the league's double round robin schedule when Brevard invades the Abney Athletic Center Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. contest. Anderson is looking for a sweep of the regular-season series after claiming a 73-67 road win past the Tornados last November.