VIDEO: 2018 C-N at UT Highlights
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman and Tennessee open their 2019-20 seasons Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. inside of Thompson-Boling Arena squaring off in exhibition play, continuing a tradition that started in 2004, giving both teams a chance to showcase their new-look rosters.
"The University of Tennessee and its athletics program rules king supreme around here and rightfully so," Carson-Newman coach Mike Mincey. "They are the flagship university of the state. We just happen to be 25 minutes up the road and every year it is nice that we can come down, play them and be on the same stage with the Lady Vols. It's really good for our program. It gives us a lot of good PR especially on the nights where we play well and shoot the ball well.
"Tennessee presents a lot of challenges that you just don't see on the Division II level. It's challenges our coaching staff to make sure that they are prepared to see different things in that environment at Thompson-Boling Arena."
Carson-Newman embarks on a 2019-20 campaign where it is looking to qualify for the national tournament for a third straight season, a mark that has not occurred in 27 years when the Lady Eagles went to five NAIA Tournaments from 1988-89 to 1992-93.
In a South Atlantic Conference that saw the key departures of eight of the top 10 leading scorers, Mincey's team returns second- and sixth-leading scorers in the league in Kayla Marosites (Elizabethton, Tenn.) and Addison Byrd (Nashville, Tenn.), a pair of All-SAC picks.
Over the last three seasons, Carson-Newman is 74-21 overall and 49-13 in league play. It has been a three-team race among SAC schools in that span with Wingate leading the pack with 75-21 and 50-12 marks in that span. Anderson is 71-21 and 51-11 over that same stretch.
Scoring has been a key part of the formula for the Orange and Blue ranking in the top seven of the country in scoring average over the past three years. C-N is one of three teams in Division II to be in the top seven in that stretch. Ashland and Glenville State have been first and second in some order over that period. UConn and Baylor are the lone two Division I schools to be among the nation's top seven in scoring offense over the last three campaigns.
"We all three press, try to push tempo and increase possessions," Mincey said. "We have shot a really good percentage the last three years because we have had really good players. We get the ball up the floor. There is still a lot of firepower and we have a lot of people that can shoot it and shoot it at a high percentage."
For a 16th consecutive campaign, Carson-Newman and Tennessee meet in an exhibition contest as the Lady Vols have won each outing posting triple digits in 12 of the 15 affairs. The series dates back to 1920 when the Lady Eagles picked up a 14-13 triumph. The Big Orange have won 27 meetings in-a-row since C-N won 36-16 on Feb. 9, 1925.
In the 2018 contest, Tennessee's offense was rolling early and often scoring at least 30 points in each quarter forcing 25 turnovers in a 128-59 victory. Kelci Marosites (Elizabethton, Tenn.) tied for the team lead in scoring with 11 off of the bench.
Eight Lady Vols scored in double figures as the roster shot 55 percent from the field despite going 5-for-24 from long range. The team's two-point percentage was 66 percent while they outrebounded C-N 72-31.
Zaay Green led UT in scoring off of the bench with 28 points and 10 rebounds on 10-for-17 shooting in just 22 minutes. Mimi Collins also posted a double-double off of the pine with 16 points and 10 boards.
Despite finishing 7-9 in Southeastern Conference play last year, UT qualified for it's a record 38th straight NCAA Tournament where it earned a No. 11 seed falling to sixth-seeded UCLA in College Park, Md.
The Lady Vols return two starters from a year ago led by second-team All-SEC selection Rennia Davis, a six-foot-two junior. She led the Big Orange in scoring, rebounding and free-throw percentage earning honorable mention All-American honors from the WBCA. Davis was also a finalist for the Cheryl Miller award given to the nation's best small forward. In two games against C-N, Davis has scored 44 points on 19-for-29 shooting from the field adding 22 rebounds and five steals.
Every player on this year's roster is at least six feet tall with the exception of freshman Jessie Rennie who checks in a five-foot-six from Australia. The Lady Vols bring in the ninth-ranked recruiting class in the country led by freshman guard Jordan Horston. The Columbus, Ohio native was the 2019 McDonald's All-American Game MVP and No. 2 overall player in the country.
There will be a new look on the bench with Kellie Harper taking the reins of the program after leading Missouri State for six seasons that ended with 2019 Sweet 16 run and Kay Yow Coach of the Year honor. She is one of 11 women's basketball coaches in history to lead three different schools the NCAA Tournament. Harper player for the Big Orange in the late 1990s winning three NCAA titles.
Tuesday night's affair will be broadcast through the Eagle Sports Network on cneagles.com/live and 106.3 (WPFT-FM) starting at 6:45 p.m with "The AEC Countdown to Tip-Off". The affair with also be streaming on the ESPN app and WatchESPN with coverage on SEC Network+.
- CN -
