Women’s Basketball’s comeback bid falls short at Wingate

Wingate, N.C. —- The Catawba College women's basketball team trailed by as much as 22 before cutting their deficit to four late in the second half at South Atlantic Conference foe Wingate on Wednesday, but ultimately fell for the first time in the 2025 calendar year, 69-63 at Cuddy Arena.

TEAM STATISTICS

- Wingate shot 22-for-52 (42 percent) from the field, while Catawba went 23-of-61 (38 percent) from the floor

- The Bulldogs were 2-for-8 (25 percent) from three-point range; the Catawba Indians shot 8-for-34 (24 percent) from deep

- WU was 23-for-23 (100 percent) from the free throw line; Catawba was 9-for-11 (82 percent) from the charity stripe

- Wingate out-rebounded the Catawba Indians 38-32, helping them to a 17-10 advantage in second-chance points

- The Bulldogs recorded 13 assists to 22 turnovers, while Catawba had 11 assists to 20 turnovers; WU held a 21-10 lead in points off turnovers

- Wingate led in points in the paint (32-30) and fastbreak points (12-8); Catawba had 27 bench points to Wingate's 13

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Nala Baker scored a game-high 24 points off a career-high six three-pointers with four steals

- Saniya Wilson added 14 points and three assists

- Imani Williams chipped in nine points off the bench

- Janiya Foskey scored seven points with a team-high four rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED 

FIRST QUARTER

- Both teams started to slow starts offensively, with Wingate leading 6-2 at the 6:20 mark of the opening quarter

- Catawba pulled in front, 10-8, after a Baker three-pointer just after the midway point

- The Bulldogs scored the final nine points of the opening quarter, leading 19-11 after 10 minutes

SECOND QUARTER

- An 8-0 Bulldog run in the second quarter stretched their lead to 32-17 with just under six minutes to go in the opening half

- The Catawba deficit reached 22 points at the 2:44 mark

- A pair of free throws and another Baker three-pointer capped a quick five unanswered points to cut into the large lead

- Wingate led 45-29 at the halftime break

THIRD QUARTER

- Williams' three-pointer chipped the Wingate lead down to 11 points at the 4:49 mark

- Wingate responded with four straight free throws to return the lead to 15

- Baker and Williams combined for baskets the rest of the way with the Bulldogs leading 57-46 with 10 minutes to go

FOURTH QUARTER

- The teams traded points for much of the early going in the fourth quarter; the Bulldogs led 67-54 with 3:34 to go

- Catawba's last punch came in the form of a 9-0 run in just over three minutes to pull within four with less than 30 seconds left, but the Bulldogs finished the game at the foul line, handing Catawba the 69-63 final score

UP NEXT

- Catawba is off this snowy weekend, returning to action next Wednesday, traveling once again on the road to 17th-ranked Coker; tip is set for 5:30 p.m.