Carson-Newman Women's Basketball Game Notes
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – In their final tuneup before the Division II season begins, the Carson-Newman Lady Eagles make the short trip to Thompson-Boling Arena to face the No. 4 Tennessee Lady Volunteers Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
In the exhibition opener against the University of North Carolina, Carson-Newman held the Tar Heels to the fewest points in the eight meetings between the two programs. Sunday provides new challenges for the Lady Eagles.
"If we can pull the same defensive effort, holding a team under 100 points of this caliber, that'd be all right," head coach Mike Mincey said. "The Tennessee environment is a lot different. I think it will be a lot tougher game with the girls being a lot closer to home."
The Lady Eagles will look for more consistency offensively against Tennessee. Carson-Newman was able to get open looks against the Tar Heels, but the Lady Eagles could not convert.
"Offensively we are going to have to do a better job handling the pressure at this level," Mincey said. "I think it's going to come down to us finding playmakers. I think the kids were a little reluctant [Wednesday night]. Part of our game plan was to not take quick shots, but to run some plays that had multiple options and not get into an up-and-down game with them."
Mincey's group was held to 18 percent shooting from the floor in Chapel Hill with senior forward Jasmine Poole (Harrisburg, Pa.) leading the way with eight points and five rebounds off of the bench. Sophomore forward Kaitlyn Cupples (Clinton, Tenn.) did not score in the contest but had four rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
Sunday's contest will mark the 11th time the two schools have squared off in exhibition play with Tennessee winning all of the contests including a 115-31 decision a season ago in Knoxville. Junior guard Jai Jai McLaughlin (Knoxville, Tenn.) led Carson-Newman in scoring with eight points. Six Tennessee players scored in double figures led by Bashaara Graves' double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Tennessee will be without the services of four players due to a violation of team rules regarding academic expectations. Seniors Cierra Burdick and Ariel Massengale, redshirt sophomore Andraya Carter and redshirt freshman Jannah Tucker leaves the Lady Volunteers to just eight active players for the contest.
The Lady Volunteers fell in the Regional Semifinals to Maryland 73-62 in 2014 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament finishing the year 29-6 overall.
Holly Warlick begins her third season at the helm of Tennessee after spending 29 years as the assistant to the legendary Pat Summitt. The former Lady Vol has compiled a 56-14 record.
Fans can listen to the broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network's flagship WPFT-FM 106.3 and cneagles.com/live beginning at 1:45 with "The AEC Countdown to Tipoff".
- CN -
_of_Tatum_Burstrom_story.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
