Box Score (PDF)
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Kayla Marosites ripped down a career-high 22 rebounds to establish a new high mark for the program but third-ranked Carson-Newman was unable to take advantage of chances late in an 88-83 lost at the Lumpkin Center Sunday afternoon to Columbus State.
The junior guard had set the record against North Georgia in the 2018 Southeast Region title game of 21. The Elizabethton, Tenn. native had nine offensive boards and finished with 17 points and three assists going 9-for-10 at the free-throw line.
Mika Wester (Newport, Tenn.) notched her first double-double of the season and eighth for her career with 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. The duo also had double-doubles against Lander on March 10, 2018 in the NCAA Tournament.
Addison Byrd (Nashville, Tenn.) led Carson-Newman (5-1) with a career-high 25 points going 11-for-16 from the field. Briana Smith (Nashville, Tenn.) added 14 points and four assists.
For the fourth time in five tries, Columbus State (3-0) held serve on its home floor against the Lady Eagles moving to 8-5 all-time in the series.
Columbus State started the fourth frame on a 7-0 scoring surge in the first 1:12 to open up a 69-62 advantage. It was an 81-73 game when the Lady Eagles burst for an 8-1 scoring run to tie the score at 82 with just under two minutes left. Naomi Halloway hit a running layup to put the Cougars ahead with 1:12 on the clock.
Down by two, Wester was fouled after picking up a steal. The senior missed the first foul shot before making the second to cut the margin to on at 84-83. After Tatiana Wayne made a pair of foul shots, the Lady Eagles missed one three-pointer and turned it over after an offensive rebound allowing the home team to ice the game at the line.
"I am trying to think back on the possessions that we had," Carson-Newman coach Mike Mincey said. "I felt like we missed a couple bunnies here whether they were contested or not I felt like we had a chance to tie the game. We had our chances but we didn't make the plays down the stretch so we come away with a loss."
✅ New program-record 22 rebounds from @KaylaMarosites @CNwbasketball dominated the glass but turnovers was a difference maker against @CSUCougarsWBB. pic.twitter.com/pu3njIkzyf
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) November 25, 2018
After scoring the first two points of the game, C-N allowed a 9-2 scoring run from the Cougars to force a timeout from Mincey with 8:08 to go in the opening quarter. The home group played with the lead much of the quarter as a bucket from Haris Price (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) at the horn made it 26-25 entering the second.
After a bucket from the Cougars to start the quarter, C-N rattled off eight unanswered to go on top 33-28 with 6:15 left to play in the first half. Columbus State responded by scoring 10 straight as Anna Stewart's and-one made it 38-33 with 4:36 remaining. In a half of spurts, the Lady Eagles scored 11 in-a-row over a 3:18 stretch to lead 44-38 and went into the locker room ahead 46-42.
Kayla Marosites had her third double-double of the season at halftime with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Addison Byrd (Nashville, Tenn.) chipped in a dozen points.
Tatiana Wayne led all scorers through 20 minutes with 16 points as eight different Cougars scored in the first half.
Carson-Newman scored the first points of the second half only to allow an 8-2 run as the Cougars tied the score at 50. The two teams played to stalemate down the stretch of the stanza as Briana Smith (Nashville, Tenn.) canned a pair of foul shots in the final 10 seconds to send the squads to fourth tied at 62.
Wayne led all players and was the only Cougar in double figures with 33 points going 13-for-32 from the field while playing 39 minutes. Anna Stewart and Taya Gibson each had nine points off of the bench as 14 different players saw action.
The Lady Eagles committed 28 turnovers in the game its most since the second game of the 2016-17 season when they committed 29 in a 68-53 loss to Lander on Nov. 12.
South Atlantic Conference play opens up Wednesday evening as the Lady Eagles travel to Harrogate to face Lincoln Memorial for a 6 p.m. tip-off from Tex Turner Arena.
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