JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – With the first game action 15 days away, it is time to kick off a two-part series previewing the Carson-Newman women's basketball positions starting with the backcourt with senior guard Tori Griffin (Strawberry Plains, Tenn.).
Carson-Newman has led the South Atlantic Conference in scoring in each of the last four seasons ranking third and seventh in scoring over the past two campaigns. The Lady Eagles have been to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and won at least 20 games in three straight seasons.
The backcourt has the biggest shoes to fill with two 1,000-point scorers and one of the best three-point shooters of all time. Two-time All-American Haris Price is now on the coaching staff after ranking 31st in the country in scoring average at 18.7 points per game leaving the school as the seventh-leading scorer in program history.
Briana Smith is 10th on the school's scoring with 1,274 points leaving Mossy Creek with 67 double-digit scoring games playing in 120 total contests over her four seasons. Ashton Wykle drained 88 triples during her tenure, just outside of the top 10. All three graduated and leave big shoes to fill.
Despite starting five of her first 82 games, Griffin expects to be in Mike Mincey's starting five to open her senior season. A modest scoring option for much of her career, she posted seven double-digit scoring efforts and 11.7 points per game in her final 11 outings of the year. The guard posted a career-high 20 points twice doing so in 22 minutes against Coker on Feb. 9 and against Tusculum on Feb. 20 going 7-for-9 from the floor and four of five from deep.
"I definitely want to step up and be the best leader that I can be and set an example for the girls and the new freshmen," Griffin said. "We lost some good players. They set great examples for us. I think that the girls know what we have to do to go back to the Elite Eight and further."
UNCONSCIOUS! @littleTorgriff has a career-high of 2️⃣0️⃣❗️
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) February 21, 2019
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Carson-Newman has four returners on board for the backcourt, all with opportunities to grow entering the 2019-20 campaign. Kelci Marosites (Elizabethton, Tenn.) has played in 63 games during her tenure scoring double figures 10 times in a C-N jersey.
Madison Bunch (Morristown, Tenn.) has played a reserve role playing 6.7 minutes per game over her first two seasons. Sophomores Abby Wilson (Kingston, Tenn.) and Taylor Goforth (Friendsville, Tenn.) each provided clutch minutes and should see expanded roles this year.
Wilson played 18 minutes in a road game against Catawba on Feb. 16 scoring six points adding four assists and three rebounds. Goforth played double-digit minutes on five occasions.
"I think that everyone has a really important role," Griffin said. "They know what they need to do. A lot of players will get their opportunity this year. It's going to be different not having the All-Americans so I think that each game we are going to have learn what our strengths and weaknesses are. I think we will figure it out as we go."
6⃣ @HarisJordan
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) February 7, 2019
4⃣ @KaylaMarosites
3⃣ @AddisonByrd3
2⃣ @KelciMarosites
2⃣ @littleTorgriff
2⃣ @madisonbunch33
1⃣ @bri_swish
1⃣ @abby22wilson
2⃣1⃣ Made 3⃣ Pointers for @CNwbasketball, a new @SAC_Athletics record. pic.twitter.com/cP3latfu9n
Two newcomers should play pivotal roles for the Lady Eagles in the backcourt. Qua Hines (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) won't be eligible to play until after the first semester but the former SAC All-Freshman team pick will try to pick up where she left off with Lincoln Memorial two years ago when she scored nine points and four boards.
The younger sister of Ashton, Braelyn Wykle (Greeneville, Tenn.) was an electric scorer at South Greene High School posting just shy of 2,000 career points posting nearly 20 points per game. She had a 40-point effort on Dec. 4, 2018 in a 73-59 win against Greeneville.
"They definitely fit in really well," Griffin said. "I have noticed that our practices are more competitive than they ever have been. I think that it's going to play a great component when we play games. This year we are going to focus on different ways to be good at stuff. We are a lot more conditioned than we have ever been which I think is going to be awesome playing against all of these great teams."
The final installment of the position previews is slated to be released on Wednesday as junior Addison Byrd (Nashville, Tenn.) sheds light on the C-N backcourt. Carson-Newman's first test is scheduled for Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at Tennessee.
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