Carson-Newman Women's Basketball Game Notes
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – As one of nine remaining undefeated teams in Division II women's basketball the Carson-Newman Lady Eagles (11-0, 5-0 South Atlantic Conference) begin the 2015 calendar year with a home game at Holt Fieldhouse against the Wingate Bulldogs (----) Saturday at 2 p.m.
Carson-Newman finished the 2014 calendar year with a 76-45 victory over the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers in Owensboro, Ky. marking the first win by 30 or more points since a 40-point victory against Erskine on November 10, 2012. The defensive effort by the Lady Eagles saw Kentucky Wesleyan shoot just 26.3 percent (15-57) from the floor. It was the best defensive effort by a Carson-Newman team since November 25, 2006 when Livingstone shot 17.5 percent.
Head coach Mike Mincey's group has elevated its defensive prowess ranking second in the SAC in scoring defense (60.8 points per game) and second in field goal percentage defense (36.7 percent).
Couple solid defensive outings with perhaps the top all-around offense in the league and Carson-Newman has developed into an all-around force. The Lady Eagles are second in the league in scoring offense (72.9), field goal percentage (42.1), third in three-point percentage (34.7) while leading the league and ranking 17th nationally with a 76.3 free throw percentage.
Spreading the wealth has been a theme for the Lady Eagles this season as seven players average at least seven points per game this season. Freshman forward Jecca Simerly (Talbott, Tenn.) and junior guard Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.) are the lone players that average in double figures with 11.8 and 11.0 points per game respectively.
The Lady Eagles and the Bulldogs are set to compete for the 69th time as Wingate holds a 37-31 lead in the series including a pair of victories a season ago. In the contest held at Holt Fieldhouse, Wingate closed the game on a 13-3 run to defeat Carson-Newman 57-54 on February 15.
A pair of players scored in double figures for Carson-Newman led by current sophomore forward Kaitlyn Cupples (Clinton, Tenn.) as she had 16 points and six rebounds on 8 of 14 shooting from the floor. Wingate was paced by Kayla Harris who poured in a game-high 17 points and five rebounds.
Pregame coverage of Saturday's contest begins at 1:45 p.m. with "The AEC Countdown to Tip-off" on the Eagle Sports Network's flagship station 106.3 WPFT-FM with a high definition video stream available by visiting cneagles.com/live.
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