Carson-Newman Women's Basketball Game Notes
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After winning its first two games of the year, Carson-Newman makes the short trip to Bristol, Tenn. for a Wednesday 7 p.m. tip-off with King (Tenn.) at the Student Center Complex.
The Lady Eagles (2-0) started the season with a pair of quality wins against two of the top-three projected teams in the Peach Belt Conference, USC Aiken and Lander. Those two teams shot a combined 38 percent from the floor and just 19 percent from three-point range.
The Tornado (1-1) began their season with three straight games against South Atlantic Conference teams. King beat Mars Hill 72-50 to start the season and lost to Tusculum 73-70 in overtime as Tusculum's Shynese Whitener nailed a last second shot from 30 feet.
The Lady Eagles attempted four foul shots (3-for-4) in a 73-62 win at Lander on November 14. It was the first time since February 13, 2013 versus Mars Hill that C-N attempted five or fewer free throws going 5-for-5 in a 61-51 win over the Lions.
Carson-Newman has never lost to King in 17 prior meeting with four of the last five contests being decided by more than 10 points.
On December 15, 2014, the Lady Eagles limited the Tornado to 32 percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers in a 61-48 victory at Holt Fieldhouse. Jai Jai McLaughlin (Knoxville, Tenn.) had 12 points and eight rebounds to lead the home group in both categories as she made both three-point attempts and all four foul shots in the game. Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.) chipped in 11 points, five rebounds and two steals as the only other Lady Eagle to score in double figures.
King was tabbed for a fifth-place finish in the 2015 Conference Carolinas preseason coaches' poll after finishing the 2014-15 campaign in a three-way tie for second with a 20-9 overall record. It was the program's first 20-win season since 2007-08.
Coach Josh Thompson has to replace three of the team's top-five leading scorers from last season. Chelseas Bowling was the lone player to average double figures with 10.7 and ranked second in the conference by shooting 40.8 percent from three-point range.
Sophomore Arnelle Collins has led the team in scoring and is coming off of a 19-point outing against the Pioneers going 7-for-16 from the floor in the game.
Redshirt sophomore Amy Van Deventer is the leading returner after averaging 8.8 points and a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per game.
Junior Jalan Harper has scored in double figures in each of the first two games averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game so far.
The contest can be heard on cneagles.com/live beginning with the Appalachian Electric Cooperative Countdown to Tip-off at 6:45 p.m.
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