Carson-Newman Game Notes - Kentucky Wesleyan

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles (7-3, 5-0 South Atlantic Conference) women's basketball team will play their last game of the 2013 year by hosting the Kentucky Wesleyan Lady Panthers (6-2, 2-0 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) at Holt Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m.

The last game of the calendar year also marks the final non-conference game of the season for the Lady Eagles, who continue to sit atop the SAC standings with a 5-0 mark in conference play.

"It's another good team coming in here with Kentucky Wesleyan," said Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey. "They are on top of their league and from what I've seen of them they are very fundamental, well-coached, and a good-sized team. I'm glad that we continue to play really good opponents because I think by playing good opponents out of conference is one of the reasons we're sitting at 5-0 in our conference play."

Carson-Newman is coming off a narrow 80-77 win at Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday. Sophomore Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.) scored a career-high 27 points, including going 9-for-16 from the field, along with a 5-for-10 mark from beyond the arc.

Joining Burstrom in double-digit scoring was freshman Kaitlyn Cupples (Clinton, Tenn.) with her 12 points, and once again senior Chante' Markus (Hummelstown, Pa.), who has now scored in double-digits the past five games as she added 11 points including a crucial layup that gave Carson-Newman the lead for good late in the contest.

Burstrom and Markus lead the Lady Eagles in scoring, with both players averaging just over 11 points per game.

The Lady Panthers, led by co-head coaches Caleb and Nicole Nieman, are off to a 6-2 start with a 2-0 mark in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Kentucky Wesleyan is on a two-game winning streak, and won its last game on Saturday Dec. 7 86-45 over Salem International.

The Lady Panthers feature five players averaging double-digit points per game, led by Shelbi Tyra and Jordanne Gambill who both average 12.6 points per contest.

Wednesday's game will be carried on the Eagle Sports Network's flagship station WPFT-FM 106.3 FM, with coverage beginning at 4:45 p.m. with "The Countdown to Tipoff," and live video is also available on www.cneagles.com.