VIDEO: Mattie Nuckolls Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – No. 11/6 Carson-Newman (8-1, 6-1 SAC) got a season-high 48 points from its bench in an 87-62 win in a South Atlantic Conference contest versus Limestone (4-4, 1-4 SAC) on Saturday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse.
"We have talented players on the bench, we have to give them more opportunities," Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey said. "Last Saturday at Anderson, we had players playing tired and so the last two games we've tried to rotate more and keep fresh bodies on the floor. That has paid off for us these last two games."
The Lady Eagles maintain the fourth longest active home winning streak, having now won 19 straight home games and five straight home games by double digits.
Carson-Newman's 48 bench points were the most in a game since recording 61 bench points versus Lenoir-Rhyne on February 12th, 2019.
Leading the bench's scoring effort was Mattie Nuckolls. The sophomore forward notched a season-high 11 points, her fourth career double-digit scoring effort.
"The starting five really set the tone," Nuckolls said. "Usually when they start off good, us bench players start off good as well when we get to go in the game. It's all about momentum and energy and I thought they passed that on to us to give us confidence."
Every player off the Lady Eagles' bench made at least two baskets. Karli Haworth scored nine points on three of six shooting, Madelyn Ladd (Harriman, Tenn.) and Makayla Alvey (Dandridge, Tenn.) each scored an efficient eight points. Abigail Johnson and Kali McMahan each scored six points efficiently as well.
Carson-Newman jumped on the Saints early. Sullivan made a pair of shots and a Gonzalez steal led to a Rutherford layup made it 9-2 Lady Eagles just two minutes into the contest. C-N's defense and offensive rebounding was on display in the first quarter, grabbing eight offensive boards and forcing Limestone into nine turnovers to lead by 13 after one quarter.
Five different players kickstarted a 12 to 0 scoring run to expand the lead out to 23 points with 5:26 to play in the opening half. Limestone's second of three baskets in the second quarter broke the scoring run, but C-N scored the next four points to gain its largest lead of the half and lead 40-15. Limestone scored eight of the final 11 points of the half to make it a 20-point game at intermission.
Carson-Newman's defense held Limestone to just five made baskets and forced the Saints into 15 turnovers in the opening half.
After making its first two shots after halftime, C-N went on to miss seven straight shots and saw the Saints draw within 16 points halfway through the third quarter. After a timeout, the Lady Eagles saw bench players help make five straight shots to increase the margin to 21. A Limestone layup in the final seconds made it a 19-point game after three quarters.
With Limestone trying to hang around, C-N rattled off eight straight points after a timeout to balloon the lead back to 25 points with 5:42 left in the contest. The Lady Eagles would maintain that margin to maintain the fourth longest active home winning streak in the country.
C-N was once again efficient from the field, making 47 percent of its shots, compared to Limestone's 35 percent shooting. It's the 22nd straight win when outshooting opponent.
The Lady Eagles managed 13 steals with a team-high four from Emily Gonzalez. It's her sixth straight games with three steals or more.
4⃣8⃣ bench points
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) December 7, 2024
2⃣2⃣ straight wins when outshooting opponent
1⃣9⃣ straight home wins
Lady Eagles have won five straight home games by double digits��@CNwbasketball x #Talonsup pic.twitter.com/zZYYKlFz7q
Limestone was led by Reagan Kargo's 12 points and her two three-pointers.
The 87-62 final score is not a scorigami. It is the second time this score has occurred in a Carson-Newman women's basketball game. The first time came against Wingate in 2001.
Carson-Newman has the week off and returns to action next Saturday at Catawba. Tipoff is set 2:00 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 1:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
