Carson-Newman Basketball Game Notes - Wingate Home

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles (12-10, 9-7 South Atlantic Conference) women's basketball team will return to action following a week of snow postponements by welcoming the Wingate Bulldogs (16-4, 12-4 South Atlantic Conference) to Holt Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Carson-Newman is in the midst of a season-long five-game losing streak, and with Wednesday's previously scheduled game at Brevard moved to next Monday at 6 p.m., Carson-Newman is playing for the first time in a week in what will become a busy stretch of basketball.

"It's been a weird week," said Carson-Newman head women's basketball coach Mike Mincey. "I'm sure all of the other teams in the league have gone through the same ordeal that we have. But we have three of our next four at home and certainly being on a skid like we are is certainly what we need."

Carson-Newman will face Wingate on Saturday, go to Brevard on Monday, and then host Anderson at Holt Fieldhouse on Wednesday to round out a stretch of three games in a span of five days.

The Lady Eagles fell in their last game to Lenoir-Rhyne 62-48 in what was the second lowest-point total of the season. Carson-Newman was led in scoring by junior Lashawnda Peacher (Springfield, Tenn.) who scored 13 points off of the bench and also grabbed six rebounds. She was the only Lady Eagle to score in double figures in the contest. The Lady Eagles and Bears were back-and-forth in the first half with eight lead changes, but L-R never trailed in the second half as the Lady Eagles saw their losing streak hit five games.

Carson-Newman is still led in scoring by sophomore Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.), who is averaging 11.4 points per game. In the last game against Lenoir-Rhyne she was 1-for-6 shooting from the field and scored seven points.

Earlier this season Carson-Newman fell to Wingate 73-59 at Cuddy Arena on Jan. 4.  After a back-and-forth first half, the Bulldogs closed the first 20 minutes on a 20-2 run over the final five minutes to pull away from Carson-Newman, and Wingate never trailed again.

The loss was Carson-Newman's first in conference play after beginning the SAC schedule 5-0.  Carson-Newman was led in scoring by sophomore Jai Jai McLaughlin (Knoxville, Tenn.) with her 15 points, and she was the only Lady Eagle in double-digit scoring. Senior Chante' Markus (Hummelstown, Pa.) was held to seven points, the first time in six games where she hasn't scored in double digits.

The Bulldogs, coached by Ann Hancock, are 16-4 on the season with a 12-4 record in conference play and are tied with Lenoir-Rhyne for the SAC lead. Wingate is led in scoring by Kayla Harris, who is averaging 16.8 points per game, which is fifth-best in the conference.

Saturday's game will be carried on the Eagle Sports Network's flagship station WPFT-FM 106.3 FM, with coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m. with "The Countdown to Tipoff," and live video is also available on www.cneagles.com.