VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Press Conference
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A 29-percent shooting effort from the field with 25 turnovers led Carson-Newman to fall to 11th-ranked Tennessee 128-59 in the final tune-up for the 2018-19 campaign on Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
"I was encouraged by tonight," coach Mike Mincey said. "The starting lineup, every single player was outmatched by a few inches or more than that probably. I thought we were trying to get bodies on people boxing out. Maybe a couple were over the back, maybe they weren't, but you know the thing of it is it's a different physical game. At the Power-five level, it's different than the low D-I, the D-II level.
"I was well-pleased with how we handled the press. I thought we got a lot of open looks. You're only going to get one shot and then it's done."
The Lady Eagles were the first team to get on the board in the match thanks to a free throw from Haris Price (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) prior to regulation on a technical to Tennessee. The Lady Vols answered with a 13-0 run that allowed it to command the tempo of the game from the onset.
Carson-Newman connected on two of its 16 shots from the field in the first quarter, trailing by the end of the opening frame 35-12. Both of those coming in the form of three-pointers from Addison Byrd (Nashville, Tenn.) and Kelci Marosites (Elizabethton, Tenn.). That pair of threes gave Carson-Newman its largest scoring stretch in the first quarter.
More of the same happened to start the second quarter as a layup by Kasiyahna Kushkituah spurred a streak of 11-straight points for the Lady Vols until Caroline Harville (Morristown, Tenn.) connected on a jumper to cut the Tennessee lead to 30. Carson-Newman could not find a scoring run in the second quarter, adding just 12 points onto its score heading into the break facing a 66-27 deficit.
By the break, C-N was shooting just 22-percent from the field compared to a 53-percent showing for UT. A trio of Lady Vols were already in double figures for scoring while Byrd and Marosites led the way for the Lady Eagles with seven.
The Lady Eagles spent the final 4:41 of the third quarter in a scoring drought from the field, getting outscored 32-22 in the frame. It was their closest scoring effort through a quarter in the game.
With a 60-point differential in the fourth, both sides allowed their reserves to find time on the court.
Tennessee capitalized on C-N's turnovers with 49 points off those lost possessions. Of the 12 turnovers the Lady Vols committed, C-N was only able to gain six points.
Tennessee dominated the boards with 72 rebounds to 31 from the Lady Eagles who notched nine rebounds when they controlled the ball.
Mika Wester (Newport, Tenn.) and Marosites led Carson-Newman with 11 points on the night as they were the only Lady Eagles to see double-digit scoring tallies.
Wester yet again packed the stats, adding seven rebounds and three assists despite a team-high eight turnovers. She was four-of-11 from the field with one three in a trio of attempts.
Zaay Green was the standout Lady Vol on the court with 28 points, making 10 of her 17 shots from the field. She gained a double-double with 10 rebounds.
Joining her in double-double territory was Mimi Collins with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Six additional Lady Vols had double-digit scoring nights.
Carson-Newman kicks off its season in the friendly confines of Holt Fieldhouse on Friday as USC Aiken comes to town. That contest will begin at 7 p.m. Fans who cannot make it can enjoy a live broadcast courtesy of the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
