GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Freshman guard Ashton Wykle (Greeneville, Tenn.) scored a career-high 18 points converting 6-for-12 from the three-point line in a 68-47 Carson-Newman victory over Tusculum Wednesday night at Pioneer Arena.
"It's pretty big for me," Wykle said. "I had a lot of family here and some people that hadn't had a chance to watch me play this year since I went with Carson-Newman. It was special to me and them as well."
"Wykle played great the last game and got that three to go down," Carson-Newman coach Mike Mincey said. "Then she comes out and makes six in her hometown. Her window of opportunity opened up and she stepped up. I knew she was capable of doing it. Doing it in her hometown probably means a little bit more she was prepared, dialed in and focused to do what she had to do to help us beat their zone."
Carson-Newman (10-3, 4-3 South Atlantic Conference) trailed 6-5 in the first quarter and closed the frame on an 11-2 run courtesy of three three-points in successive possessions. The run extended to 16-2 into the second quarter as the lead ballooned to 21-8 just over a minute into the quarter. A 10-2 sequence for the Lady Eagles capped by a steal and layup by senior guard Jai Jai McLaughlin (Knoxville, Tenn.) made it a 31-12 game with 3:47 to play in the opening 20 minutes. The halftime score was 33-16.
The 16 points in the first half was the fewest points yielded by Carson-Newman in a half since Lenoir-Rhyne scored 15 points on February 9, 2013 in the first half of a 55-49 Bears victory.
The Lady Eagles assisted on 11 of 13 made field goals. Junior guard Kailyn Brooks (Lafayette, Tenn.) and Wykle led the way with nine points as only four players scored for Tusculum (6-4, 4-3 SAC) in the first half.
Despite shooting 62 percent from the floor in the third quarter, Tusculum saw the halftime deficit extend to 19 points heading into the final frame. The Pioneers went 2-for-10 from the floor in the fourth quarter as the Lady Eagles won the game by their largest lead of the, 21 points.
Sophomore forward Jecca Simerly (Talbott, Tenn.) notched her fourth double-double of her career with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Brooks finished with 11 points, three assists and three steals. Redshirt-freshman guard Kayla Newman (Alcoa, Tenn.) had nine points, a career-high six assists and five rebounds.
Tusculum was led by Kasey Johnson's 18 points and Kristen McMillion's 12 points and 12 rebounds. Its leading scorer, Shynese Whitener was held to six points on 3 of 16 shooting while committing eight turnovers.
Carson-Newman ventures to Wingate Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off against the Bulldogs. Broadcast coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. with the Appalachian Electric Cooperative Countdown to Tip-Off on 106.3 WPFT-FM and cneagles.com/live as well as on the WatchESPN app.
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