WINGATE, N.C. – Kailyn Brooks set the single-season made three-pointers record for Carson-Newman as Wingate defeated the Lady Eagles for the eighth consecutive matchup with a fourth-quarter surge in an 85-73 win in South Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Cuddy Arena.
"We want to be in the game in the fourth quarter and try to win it," Carson-Newman coach Mike Mincey said. "You have to credit Wingate. They made some shots around the rim. They had some nice plays where they fed the ball to each other and got some assists. We had some shots at the rim that we are capable of making and we didn't make them. We didn't make enough plays in the fourth quarter."
Brooks, a senior from Lafayette, Tenn., buried a triple from the left point with 16 seconds to play in the second quarter for her 73rd made three-pointer of the year to take sole possession of the school's single-season record passing Ashley Tipton's mark of 72 set in 2008-09.
"I am proud of her," Mincey said. "I'm glad that she decided to come to Carson-Newman and play. She's a really important reason why we have had a successful year this year. I wish we could have won and celebrated it that way. Nonetheless it's a great accomplishment and puts her in the record books at Carson-Newman."
Wingate (21-4, 17-3) wins for the 10th straight game, the 14th-longest string in Division II, while beating Carson-Newman (17-9, 14-6) for the eighth consecutive meeting dating back to a March 2, 2013 win at Holt Fieldhouse.
The score was tied at four when the teams exchanged runs. C-N used a 6-0 spurt to gain a six-point lead before Wingate reeled off eight unanswered to go on top 12-10. Overall the first frame saw five ties and six lead changes as the Bulldogs made 59 percent of their shot attempts to take a 27-21 advantage.
C-N was within a point at 22-21 with 1:14 to play in the first quarter when Wingate used a 12-3 sequence lasting until the 6:24 mark of the second stanza to go on top 34-24. The deficit was 10 at 40-30 with 4:18 to play before halftime when the Lady Eagles closed the half on a 9-2 run to pull within three at the break at 42-39.
Each team shot 52 percent in the first half as C-N went 11-for-15 from the free-throw including 8-for-8 in the first quarter to stay within striking distance. Sophomore Mika Wester (Newport, Tenn.) was the only player on either side to score in double figures posting 16 points.
The Lady Eagles were able to make up one point in the third stanza despite Wingate shooting 50 percent from the field. Entering the fourth quarter it was a 62-60 lead for the Bulldogs.
Carson-Newman opened the final 10 minutes by failing to score a point for the opening 4:22 as Wingate reeled off 10 unanswered to go on top 72-60. The Lady Eagles missed 15 of their 20 shot attempts in the fourth quarter while Wingate went 9-for-15 outscoring C-N 23-13.
Wester finished the game with her fifth double-double of the season going for 20 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Haris (Newport, Tenn.) added 15 points while sophomore Briana Smith (Nashville, Tenn.) and senior Kaitlyn Cupples (Clinton, Tenn.) each chipped in 10 points.
Marta Miscenko led all players with 21 points as she notched her 13th double-double of the year with 14 rebounds in 33 minutes. Kristina Rumplasch had 15 points, Caroline Averette had 12 and Alex Tomlingson finished the night with 11. Amber Neely handed out 10 assists while scoring seven points and collecting four boards.
Wingate shot 53 percent from the field in the game to become the fourth team to eclipse 50 against the Lady Eagles this year but the first one to earn a victory.
Carson-Newman opens the final week of the regular season Wednesday night at Holt Fieldhouse with a 6 p.m. contest against Brevard. The game will air live on 106.3 WPFT-FM and with video and audio streams available on cneagles.com/live starting at 5:45 p.m. with "The Appalachian Electric Cooperative Countdown to Tip-Off".
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