Murfreesboro, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles dropped the first of three tough preseason exhibition games to Middle Tennessee State, 96-68, on Monday night in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The Lady Eagles turned the ball over 33 times, including on four of their first possessions, as MTSU built an 11-4 lead in the opening minutes. C-N forced 26 Blue Raider turnovers.

“We weren’t ready for their full-court pressure,” Lady Eagle head coach Dean Walsh said after the game. “It is, along with Tennessee’s and North Carolina’s, one of three best presses we’ll see this year. Other than the turnovers, I’m pleased with the outcome.”

After a C-N three-pointer by transfer Katlin Moore (Fort Mill, S.C.) to pull the Lady Eagles within nine at 29-20, MTSU answered with an 11-0 run to build its lead to 20 just before the end of the first half.

Senior Ashley Kyle (Jefferson City, Tenn. ) had 16 points to lead the way for the Lady Eagles. She finished the night only 3-of-7 from the floor, but she converted on 10-of-12 free throw attempts.

Sophomore Zoriah Williams (Calera, Ala.) added 11 points and a team-high five steals.

Fellow senior Shari Buford (Hampton, Ga.) added eight points and eight rebounds for C-N. True freshman Courdne Miles (Burlington, N.C.) grabbed five rebounds and a steal after opening her career in the starting lineup.

Alysha Clark led MTSU with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Jackie Pickel added 20 for the Blue Raiders, who connected on 12-of-30 three-point attempts.

Carson-Newman returns to action on Thursday night when it faces the University of Tennessee. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. in Knoxville, Tenn. C-N also travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. to face the University of North Carolina on Nov. 10.