Carson-Newman Game Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles basketball team (13-7, 7-6 South Atlantic Conference) will face the Newberry Wolves (16-7, 8-5 South Atlantic Conference) at Eleazer Arena in Newberry, S.C. on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Lady Eagles ended a two-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 61-51 victory over Mars Hill at Holt Fieldhouse, and earlier this season beat Newberry 57-39 on Jan. 12.

"We're playing at Newberry and they've certainly played very well at home," said Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey. "Playing there has always been difficult for us, so hopefully we can have a good, safe bus ride over there and play really good basketball."

Against Mars Hill, Carson-Newman was led in scoring by two players with 16 points, with both Lady Eagles having dominant halves. Senior Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half, while freshman guard Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.) scored all 16 of her points in the second half, helped in large part by her four three-pointers.

The Lady Eagles continue to be led in scoring by junior Shyra Clark (Cleveland, Tenn.) who is averaging 11.1 points per game, while Burstrom is right behind her by averaging 10.7 points per contest.

The Lady Eagles beat Newberry 57-39 in one of the most complete victories of the season on Jan. 12 at Holt Fieldhouse. The Lady Eagles began the game on an 11-0 run and never looked back, never trailing in the contest while holding Newberry to a season- low 39 points. Carson-Newman was led in scoring by Clark's 14 points, and she was joined in double figures by Jai Jai McLaughlin (Knoxville, Tenn.), who scored 12 points while grabbing six rebounds.

Newberry's three-time SAC Player of the Week and the league's top scorer Haylee Lepaio was held to a 12-point performance, eight points below her 20.1 points per game average.

While the Lady Eagles are in fourth place in the SAC standings at 7-6, Newberry is in a third place tie with Catawba at 8-5. The Wolves have lost their last two games against Lincoln Memorial and Wingate, yet has played well at home, posting a 10-1 record overall at Eleazer Arena with a 6-0 mark there against SAC opponents.

Coverage of the game is available on the Coca-Cola Eagle Sports Network, beginning with the Farm Bureau Countdown to Tipoff at 1:45 p.m. and the broadcast is also available on www.cneagles.com.