DAHLONEGA, Ga. – In a rematch of last year's NCAA Southeast regional semifinal, Carson-Newman women's basketball (3-1) could not get revenge on North Georgia (4-0), falling 76-70 inside the Convocation Center on Saturday evening.
"I just think it came down to making plays," Carson-Newman women's basketball coach Mike Mincey said. "They're obviously a good team, they've been there and done that. You get down to winning time and in a one-possession game, you got to make plays. I felt like we had some opportunities near the rim but didn't convert it. The biggest difference in the end was when Martin canned that three there toward the end."
Braelyn Wykle (Greeneville, Tenn.) led C-N in scoring with 21 points. 14 of her 21 points came in the 1st quarter, as she shot a perfect 5-5 from the field. She grabbed five rebounds and added two assists and two steals in the loss.
Campbell Penland (Sevierville, Tenn.) was C-N's second highest scorer contributing 18 points, buring four, 3-point field goals. Penland secured a team-high seven rebounds.
Skylar Boshears (LaFollette, Tenn.) was the Eagles' third double-figure scorer, scoring 11 points on 3 for 8 shooting from the field. Five of her 11 points came from the free throw line.
C-N got out to a great start going on an 8-0 run to begin the game. Wykle hit two three-point field goals and scored a layup to get the Eagles going. She scored 14 of C-N's first 16 points to put the Eagles ahead 16-7 halfway through the first quarter. C-N scored six of the final nine points to lead 26-18 after the first period.
North Georgia used a 14-4 run to start the second quarter and gained its first lead of the contest at 36-30 with 4:51 left in the 2nd. The Eagles cut the deficit to three points thanks to a Penland three, and a Kali McMahan (Dandridge, Tenn.) layup to trail 39-36 at the half.
After surrendering the first four points of the 3rd quarter, C-N went on its own 14-4 run to take a 51-45 lead at the 4:26 mark of the 3rd quarter. Mincey's team used the strong start to the quarter and took a 58-53 lead heading into the 4th quarter.
The Eagles offense struggled in the 4th quarter, only making two field goals, and scoring just 12 points. C-N regained the lead with 2:13 left on a jumpshot from Boshears. North Georgia answered as Caroline Martin drilled a three to put her team ahead by two and they never looked back. The Nighthawks outscored C-N 23-12 in the final ten minutes to take the contest.
Caroline Martin led the Nighthawks recording a double-double, scoring a team-high 19 points and grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds. Kayla Massop scored 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the field. Nayia Lutz and Kaylee Sticker also scored double-figures with 12 points each.
North Georgia dominated inside outscoring C-N 36-20 in the paint and outrebounding the Eagles 35-32.
C-N returns to the floor on Tuesday for a matchup with Wayne State in Detroit, Michigan. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.
