Mincey adds LMU transfer Qua Hines to Mossy Creek

Mincey adds LMU transfer Qua Hines to Mossy Creek

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's basketball coach Mike Mincey added a former South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year to his roster bringing over Lincoln Memorial transfer Qua Hines. She will have three years of eligibility and be available when the first semester finishes in 2019.

"We are excited to add a player of Qua's ability to our roster especially considering some of the players we have lost the past two years," Mincey said. "She has a year of SAC play under her belt and was a tough match-up for us when she competed for LMU winning SAC Freshman of the Year.

"Qua is a strong and explosive player with the ability to play multiple positions even though we would like her to spend more time at the point. What I really like about Qua is her ability to lead our players by having a strong voice. She is an encourager to her teammates and I've found our players really like that about her. Once eligible, she will bolster our roster big time."

Hines became the first Lady Railsplitter to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors during the 2017-18 year after having one of the top seasons by a freshman at LMU in program history. She averaged 8.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals a game in 28 appearances. She was the leading scorer in eight games and had a career-high 24 points against Coker on Jan. 6.

The Gatlinburg, Tenn. native was also the only freshman to be named Astroturf SAC Player of the Week in 2017-18 doing so on Jan. 2 posting 15.5 points per game and six boards and 2.5 assists in wins over Southern Indiana and Lenoir-Rhyne.

Her game went up a tick against SAC foes averaging 10.2 points per game in 19 conference outings and both of her 20-point efforts coming in league affairs. She scored 20 points against Carson-Newman on Feb. 21 going 6-for-14 from the field.

In high school, she was named the 2016-17 Knoxville News Sentinel PrepXtra Player of the Year registering 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game as a senior leading Gatlinburg-Pittman to their first-ever state tournament appearance, eventually falling in the state semifinals.

As a freshman, she played at Fulton leading the Lady Falcons to the 2014 Class AA State Championship game, scoring 26 points in the loss.

Hines adds to a recent string of transfers from local high schools to play for Mincey. All-Americans Haris Price and Mika Wester transferred to Mincey's program while the Marosites, Kayla and Kelci, are still on the roster. Kayla is an all-region selection and the team's leading returning scorer.

"It's also nice to have another top area product transfer back to us," Mincey said. "She had such a great career at Gatlinburg-Pittman taking her team to a state title appearance and winning the Knoxville area Player of the Year. We've had some great fortune the last three years with area players finding their way back to us."

Carson-Newman's season begins with its annual exhibition at Tennessee on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. before the regular season starts in Greenwood, S.C. on Nov. 8 versus USC Aiken.

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