JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles basketball team will begin their regular season with a trip to Harrogate, Tenn., for the SAC-Conference Carolinas Challenge, facing Coker on Nov. 9 and Erskine on Nov. 10 at the Tex Turner Arena on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University.

The Lady Eagles dropped their three exhibition contests, falling to North Carolina, Tennessee, and East Tennessee State on the road this past week.

"I'm a little concerned about our shooting," said Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey. "Our shooting and our offensive flow has been not so good at times but then again you have to look at our competition and who we have been playing."

Carson-Newman fell to ETSU 82-52 in last Saturday's final exhibition of the year in Johnson City, Tenn. Freshman Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.), led Carson-Newman with 14 points as she hit four three-pointers to help push the Lady Eagles to their top point total in exhibition play.

Against Tennessee last Thursday, the three-ball was also key for junior Chante' Markus (Hummelstown, Pa.), who led Carson-Newman with 12 points at Thompson-Boling Arena.

"For Chante' and Tatum in particular to step up against bigger competition being that they are 5-5 and 5-6, and make some plays and hit some threes, it's going to be key for us as we get into our own conference and own level to be making shots," said Mincey.

Carson-Newman will first face the Coker Cobras on Fri. Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. Coker was picked to finish fourth in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll, while the Cobras return four starters from last year's team that finished 11-16.

"I watched some of Coker's game against UT and I was impressed," said Mincey. "Anytime you hit 11 three-pointers against UT they're doing pretty well and they scored as many points as we did so I think it's going to be a great matchup. It should be an up-tempo game between the two teams."

Carson-Newman's second contest in the SAC-Conference Carolinas will be against the Erskine Flying Fleet on Saturday Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. The Fleet was picked to finish ninth in the preseason Conference Carolinas poll and feature nine new players for the 2012-13 season.

Fans can listen to Friday's game against Coker on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network, with coverage beginning with the Farm Bureau Countdown to Tipoff at 5:45 p.m. and the broadcast is also available www.cneagles.com.