WINGATE, N.C. --- The Tusculum College women's basketball team rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to edge host Wingate University 57-56 Sunday afternoon at Cuddy Arena in South Atlantic Conference action.

TC senior Shynese Whitener led all scorers with 22 points, including 19 in the second half as the Pioneers (5-2, 3-1 SAC) snap a four-game losing streak to the Bulldogs (3-3, 2-2 SAC) and record their first win at Cuddy Arena since Jan. 23, 2010, ending a five-year drought.

Senior Kristen McMillion scored four points, but came through with a game-high 12 rebounds and five blocked shots, including the game-saving rejection at the buzzer.

With the score tied 56-56, Whitener's three-point attempt went in-and-out of the basket, but junior Jasmine Queen came down with the huge offensive rebound and was fouled with 4.9 seconds remaining. Queen made one of the two free throws as the Pioneers led 57-56. Wingate called a timeout and elected to in-bound the basketball in front of their bench. The Bulldogs worked the ball into the paint to Morgan McGee, but her game-winning shot attempt was blocked by McMillion to complete the Tusculum rally.

Trailing 35-25 at the intermission, TC opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run, including six straight points by Whitener and a basket by freshman Sydney Wilson as the Pioneers trailed 37-33. Wingate pushed the lead back out to seven (40-33), but Tusculum answered with five straight points from Whitener, including a three-point play to trim the Wingate lead to 40-38 with 1:32 left in the quarter.

Later in the quarter, Whitener picked up her fourth foul of the game and Danaisa Witherspoon converted a three-point play to take a 45-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Wingate extended their advantage back out to eight points at 51-43 after a Courtney Robinson bucket with 6:54 left in the game.

Trailing 53-45 with 6:24 on the clock, the Pioneers went on an 11-1 run thanks to a Wilson three-pointer and eight points from Whitener, including her go-ahead bucket with 2:17 to go as TC led 56-54. It was the Pioneers' first lead since the early moments of the second quarter when they were ahead 16-15.

Wingate's Morgan McGee tied the game at 56-56 with a pair of free throws with 1:07 left on the scoreboard. McMillion hauled in her 12th rebound of the game and fourth offensive board of the day following a missed three-pointer as the Pioneers called a timeout with 17 seconds left to set the stage for the final moments.

Queen finished the game with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Wilson added 11 markers, including three 3-pointers. McMillon also tallied a career-high five assists and added three steals in the victory.

Wingate was led in scoring by Witherspoon's 14 points to go along with her seven rebounds. Shelby Tricoli added 13 points, while McGee contributed 12 points and team-high nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Tusculum out-rebounded Wingate by a 42-34 margin, including 28-16 in the second half alone. TC shot 41 percent from the floor, while holding the Bulldogs to 33 percent, including 7-of-31 in the final two quarters (22.6%).

The Pioneers return home on Wednesday when they host Lenoir-Rhyne University for a 6 p.m. contest at Pioneer Arena.

- TC -