GREENWOOD, S.C. – Carson-Newman (2-0) shot 54 percent from the floor in a 73-62 victory over Lander Saturday afternoon at Horne Arena. The Lady Eagles also converted 10 of 23 three-pointers to shoot 44 percent from long distance in the game.

"I'm incredibly proud of this team for the win today!" Carson-Newman coach Mike Mincey said. "Beating Lander at their place is no easy task. They are very athletic and well-coached. They just don't lose at home and this win will be huge in March. We have shot the ball great for two straight days and we have had more assists than turnovers. I was also impressed with how our players didn't get rattled when Lander cut our lead to three and we just kept grinding away to build our lead back. All in all it was a great weekend for our team!"

Lander scored the first two points of the game but Carson-Newman scored eight of the next 10 to take the lead. The Lady Eagles would extend the lead to seven points but the Bearcats scored five of the final seven points of the quarter to pull within four. Junior guard Kailyn Brooks (Lafayette, Tenn.) led all players with nine points in the frame.

The Bearcats pulled to within a point at 29-28 with 6:16 to play in the second quarter when the Lady Eagles exploded for a 12-2 capped by a three-pointer from senior guard Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.). Lander scored the final five points of the quarter to make it 41-35 Carson-Newman after 20 minutes of action.

Carson-Newman pushed its lead to 11 points twice in the third quarter and led by seven points heading into the final stanza. Jump shots by Ty'Hesha Reynolds and Breshay Johnson made it a three-point game with 6:37 to go. The Lady Eagles promptly responded with eight unanswered to push the lead to 66-55 with 3:06 left. Lander never pulled within nine points the rest of the way.

The Lady Eagles defense limited Lander to 36 percent, 24-for-67, shooting from the floor and 15 percent, 3-for-20 shooting from three-point range. Carson-Newman turned 20 Lander turnovers into 20 points.

Carson-Newman won the battle on the boards 38-33 while assisting on 22 of its 30 made baskets on the night.

Brooks led all scorers with 20 points while going 9-for-15 from the floor matching a career-high for made field goals.

Burstrom finished with 17 points, three assists and two steals making five three-pointers. Senior forward Taylor Peterson (Mount Juliet, Tenn.) tallied 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Three Bearcats finished in double figures led by 14 points from Reynolds and 13 points from Johnson. Bre Crum notched 12 points eight rebounds and four assists.

Carson-Newman stays on the road Wednesday for the short trip King (Tenn.) for a 7 p.m. opening tip. The game will be broadcast on cneagles.com/live with the Appalachian Electric Cooperative Countdown to Tip-Off beginning at 6:45 p.m.

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