VIDEO: Kayla Newman and Briana Smith Interview
HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Carson-Newman held Coker scoreless for 8:13 of the second quarter to gain separation before blowing out the Cobras 85-47 in South Atlantic Conference play Saturday afternoon at the DeLoach Center.
Carson-Newman (10-6, 7-3) forced 30 turnovers, the second most on the year, converting the Coker (3-12, 2-8) miscues in 31 points at the other end of the floor while the Lady Eagles turned the ball over just nine times, the second fewest this season by Mincey's team.
C-N started the game scoring eight of the first 11 points only to see Coker tie the score at eight and 11. After the visitors took a 14-13 advantage, the Lady Eagles used a 10-0 spanning the final three minutes of the opening stanza and first half minute of the second quarter to push the lead to 24-13.
Coker scored four straight points in a sixty second sequence to close within 24-17 with 8:17 left before halftime. Carson-Newman held the Cobras without a point over the next 8:13 to go on a 12-0 run. A foul shot from Sydney Shull with 4.4 seconds to play in the quarter ended the spell and sent C-N to locker rooms ahead 36-18.
Mincey's squad shot 24 percent from the floor in the second quarter and 34 percent in the half overall but 17 Coker turnovers led to 16 points for the Lady Eagles. No player on either side scored in double figures in the first 20 minutes. C-N turned the ball over twice and allowed just one offensive rebound in the first half.
In the third quarter, C-N shot 56 percent while holding Coker to 36 percent pushing the lead to 29 points at 55-26 with 3:56 to play in the stanza. Seven made foul shots in the third had the Cobras down by 26 at 61-35 entering the final frame.
C-N used an 11-2 run to push the lead to 30 points at 72-42 with 5:43 to play in the contest as a three-point play from sophomore Briana Smith (Nashville, Tenn.) capped the spurt. The Lady Eagles ended the game on a 13-2 run to push the lead to 38 points.
Senior guard Kailyn Brooks (Lafayette, Tenn.) led all scorers with 14 points on the day as she added three assists and three rebounds.
Smith added 13 points and eight rebounds and sophomore forward Mika Wester (Newport, Tenn.) ended the game with 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Kendra Lambert led the Cobras with 12 points and Iresha Cooper added 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Lady Eagles go back to Mossy Creek to begin a two-game homestand starting with a visit from Anderson (S.C.) Wednesday night at 6 p.m. The radio call will be on Mountain Country 106.3 WPFT-FM with video and audio options available on cneagles.com/live. Coverage begins 15 minutes prior to the opening tap with "The Appalachian Electric Cooperative Countdown to Tip-Off" on the Eagle Sports Network.
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