JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - For just the first time since 1991, Carson-Newman (4-1) will play as host to Belmont Abbey (4-2) at Holt Fieldhouse tomorrow evening at 5:30 p.m. for a non-conference tilt.
After meeting last season in Belmont, North Carolina for the third time ever, Belmont Abbey returns the favor by paying a visit to Mossy Creek, in what will be just the fourth ever meeting.
Carson-Newman will look to continue the good times at home. It has won all three games at home this season and has done so by an average margin of 25 points.
The Crusaders outscored C-N 43-30 in the second half to get the better of the Lady Eagles on Jan 3rd last season. Belmont Abbey shot the ball extremely well, going 47% from the field, 50% from beyond the arc and a perfect 23-23 from the charity stripe. It also managed to score 30 points off 20 C-N turnovers to secure the win.
Strong defenses are the theme of this late November battle. Carson-Newman leads the SAC by allowing just 56 points per night, a mark that is 39th in the country as well. C-N has scored 99 points off opponent's miscues through five games. C-N's 11 steals per game is the third most in the SAC. Through five games this season, no opponent has shot better than 40% from the field against the Lady Eagles. It's the first time that has happened since Feb. 2022.
On the flipside, Belmont Abbey is allowing just 55 per game as well. Opponents are shooting 25% from three on a Crusaders defense that has allowed 50 points or less three times already this season.
The Lady Eagles have not trailed in three of their five games this season. Of the 200 minutes played so far this season, C-N has led for 180:14 of that time, 90% of game action. Carson-Newman has only trailed for 10 minutes and 27 seconds this season.
Offensively, C-N has found success by scoring in the painted area. The Lady Eagles have outscored all five of their opponents in the painted area this season and are averaging ten points or more this season inside. The inside scoring is led by Lindsey Taylor (Maryville, Tenn.) who has recorded doubles-doubles in her last two outings, going 16-23 from the field. The senior forward has a 13 point per game average, along with a team-high eight boards.
Belmont Abbey enters Wednesday's non-conference match, off a 64-61 loss to Florida Southern on Saturday. The Crusaders had won four of five to start the year before the second loss. Belmont Abbey defeated USC Aiken 61-50, while C-N won 87-47.
It faced three SAC schools to open the year, beating Mars Hill, Emory & Henry and losing to Limestone. Renewing this series last season, the Crusaders secured a home victory 74-64 on Jan 3rd.
Abigail Crain paces three double-figure scorers, averaging 17 points through the first six games. Crain made the All-Conference Carolinas First Team last season. Her 13 assists are the most on the team as well. Peyton Nation is the top rebounder at seven a game to go with 11 points a night. Both Crain and Nation played in last season's meeting. Four different players are shooting above 40% from beyond the arc to begin the season.
Belmont Abbey finished second in the preseason poll, five points and four first-place votes shy of the top pick UNC Pembroke. Kim Lusk is in her second season with the Crusaders after spending 13 seasons with St. Thomas Aquinas. In her first season, she led Belmont Abbey to a 23-5 record, before falling in the second round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
Broadcast coverage airs on Mountain Talk 106.3 FM and cneagles.com/live starting at 5:15 p.m. with "The AEC Countdown to Tip-Off" courtesy of the Eagle Sports Network. A live stream of the game is available with a subscription to FloSports.
