VIDEO: Postgame Press Conference for Mike Mincey, Braelyn Wykle and Lindsey Taylor
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Battling in an exhibition contest for the second straight year, Tennessee knocked off Carson-Newman 105 to 72 Monday night inside Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
"Proud of our kids tonight," Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey said. "It's a tough thing to do to come in here as a Division II program and be downsized in a lot of positions. Really proud 1-14 with how our players came in, didn't play scared, played pretty poised and most importantly we were able to put the ball in the bucket. We shot the ball really well at 48.3 from the field and from three as well."
There were plenty of bright spots for C-N, particularly on the offensive end. As a team, the Lady Eagles shot an impressive 48% from the field. C-N made 29 field goals on 60 shot attempts. The Eagles got 42 of their 72 points from the bench.
Tennessee raced out to an early lead, scoring ten of the game's first twelve points in the first three minutes of the game. Braelyn Wykle (Greeneville, Tenn.) drilled her first three-pointer of the game to bring the Eagles back within five at the 6:40 mark. The Lady Vols increased the lead back to ten at 19-9 with 5:13 to go in the opening quarter, but then C-N came roaring back. Wykle scored six straight points to make it 19-15 UT with 4:26 to go in the 1st. The Lady Vols outscored C-N by seven in the final four minutes to lead 31-20 after ten minutes.
UT gained separation by opening the second quarter on a 23-3 scoring run and led 54-26 with 4:18 until halftime. C-N scored six of the final eight points and trailed 59-34 at the break.
Carson-Newman played right with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in the 3rd period. After allowing a 9-2 run to start the period, the Lady Eagles responded back to end the 3rd period well. C-N finished the 3rd on a 12-4 scoring run and matched the Lady Vols 22-point total in the quarter.
After another slow start to the fourth quarter, C-N was resilient once again and battled back to end the contest well. UT started the final period by outscoring C-N 12-1, but the Eagles battled back to outscore the Lady Vols by two points in the final five minutes, falling 105-72. The Lady Eagles were only outscored by eight points in the second half.
Wykle led Carson-Newman in scoring with 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting, nailing a team-high two three-pointers as well. Lindsey Taylor was C-N's other double-figure scorer, pitching in ten points on four of seven shooting from the field.
Off the bench, Makayla Alvey scored nine points and tied for the team-lead with four rebounds. Keeleigh Rogers was an efficient three of four to tally seven points as well.
12 of C-N's 14 players that played scored for Mincey's team. No Lady Eagle played more than 20 minutes, with each player seeing at least eight minutes of action.
Rickea Jackson led UT with 17 points. Five other Lady Volunteers scored in double-figures, with Sara Puckett and Kaiya Wynn scoring 12 points apiece.
UT outrebounded C-N 47-28. The Lady Vols managed 25 second chance points and shot 50 percent as a team.
The regular season begins on November 11th when Carson-Newman hosts Lander in the SAC/PBC challenge inside Holt Fieldhouse.
