VIDEO: UVA Wise Highlights Dec. 2022
VIDEO: Emory & Henry Cinematic Highlights
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Undefeated at home this season, Carson-Newman (10-5, 4-3 SAC) strives to keep it that way when UVA Wise (7-9, 3-5 SAC) comes to Holt Fieldhouse for a South Atlantic Conference contest on Thursday at 3:00 p.m.
The Lady Eagles have been on another level when playing inside Holt Fieldhouse this season. They are unbeaten at 8-0 and are winning by an average of 22 points. The success at Mossy Creek comes with efficient shooting at 46 percent in the eight wins and an average of 81 points. It's not just the offense, but the defense has been better at home as well. On average, the Lady Eagles are giving up just 58 points per game at home and are recording five more steals than they do away from home. Only one team has come to Holt and scored more than 70 points.
Lindsey Taylor (Maryville, Tenn.) has scored in double-figures in four straight games and has done so in 12 of C-N's 15 games this season. Already achieving 1,000 points for her career earlier this season, she is just 3 points from scoring 1,000 in her Carson-Newman playing career. She would become Carson-Newman women's basketball's 30th 1,000-point scorer and the 10th that head coach Mike Mincey has coached.
With a 40-point win thrashing of Emory & Henry one week ago, Mincey secured career win number 250, tying Eddie Carter for most wins in program history. During his tenure in Mossy Creek, he has guided the Lady Eagles to six NCAA tournaments and five 20 plus win campaigns. His teams have won two regular-season SAC championships and two SAC tournament championships, most recently in 2022. The 2017-18 journey saw Mincey lead the Lady Eagles to a 32-3 record and a trip to the Elite Eight. In his 13 seasons, the head coach has an overall winning percentage of 68%.
This matchup features two of the best passing teams in the country. UVA Wise edges Carson-Newman 18.2 to 18.0 in assists per game, both top ten nationally in that category. The Lady Eagles have seven games with 20 or more assists while Wise has five games with that mark. 70% of Wise's buckets have been assisted this season. However, C-N has passed it more effectively because of a better assist to turnover ratio at 1.11 to Wise's 0.87. The Lady Eagles have five different players with at least 30 assists.
Wednesday's meeting will be the 11th all-time between the Cavaliers and the Lady Eagles. Carson-Newman has won the first ten matchups, nine of which have been by double-digits. The closest matchup came on Feb. 10, 2021, a 92-89 C-N win in Wise, Virginia. Under Mincey, C-N has won all four of its home games with the Cavaliers by at least 17 points.
UVA Wise is coming off its third SAC win of the season, defeating Anderson 83-74 on Saturday at home. The win ended a three-game losing streak, all three of which came on the road. After winning their first two road games this year, the Cavaliers have lost six straight road games, four of which have been SAC games.
The main reason for UVA Wise's strong passing efforts is because of star guard Caitlyn Ross who leads the SAC with 110 assists, second most in the country. Ross can score effectively as well; she averages a team-high 16 points per game on a 41/32/80 splits.
Jamie Cluesman gets production beyond just Ross. Katlin Burger scores 12 points per game and averages a team-high six rebounds. Freshman guard Sarah Burton follows in behind at 11 points per game and has made a team-high 29 three-pointers. Sable Burnside is UVA Wise's most efficient player. Her 53 percent field goal percentage, 42 percent three-point shooting, and 83% free throw shooting all lead the team.
Tipoff from inside Holt Fieldhouse tomorrow is set for 3:00 p.m. Broadcast coverage airs on Mountain Talk 106.3 FM and cneagles.com/live starting at 2:45 p.m. with "The AEC Countdown to Tip-Off" courtesy of the Eagle Sports Network.
