DAHLONEGA, Ga. – In a battle between the two highest ranked teams in the Southeast region, No. 10/6 Carson-Newman (10-2) was unable to overcome its largest halftime deficit in nine years, falling to No. 18/15 North Georgia (10-0) on Saturday afternoon at Lynn Cottrell arena.
"Our offense killed us in the first half," Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey said. "Credit them, they were up in our business. They guarded us extremely well and made it really hard. The longer we stayed cold and didn't make shots, I think the more aggressive their defense got."
Carson-Newman scored the first five points of the game, but UNG rattled off the next seven points to settle into the game. UNG scored five of the final seven points in the opening frame and led by four after ten minutes.
C-N didn't score in the final three minutes of the first quarter and for the first 3:40 of the second and saw the Nighthawks go on an extended 13-0 scoring run over a six minute span. North Georgia scored nine of the final 13 points in the quarter and held a 19-point halftime lead.
From the halfway point of the first quarter until the six-minute mark of the second, C-N missed 16 of 17 shots.
It was Carson-Newman's first time trailing at halftime this season and its largest halftime deficit since trailing by 23 against Catawba on December 16, 2015.
Carson-Newman's 19 first half points were the fewest points in an opening half since scoring 16 against Lenoir-Rhyne on December 17, 2016.
The Lady Eagles aimed to change the script of the game at the start of the third quarter. C-N went on an 11-0 scoring run and just four minutes into the third, had the deficit down to nine. North Georgia ended the run with a basket, but then C-N scored five straight points including an Emily Gonzalez and-one to make it a six-point game at the halfway point of the third quarter. The third quarter outburst brought the deficit to seven points heading to the fourth quarter.
After an early UNG run to make it a double-digit deficit again, C-N would make it a single-digit game on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter. Mattie Nuckolls (Chatsworth, Ga.) scored five straight points and with four minutes to play, it was a six-point deficit again. The Nighthawks scored six of the final eight points over the final three minutes to pull away for a 72-59 win.
Three Lady Eagles finished in double-figures led by Campbell Penland's (Sevierville, Tenn.) 13 points and three triples. Jennifer Sullivan (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored 12 points on three made field goals and Tori Rutherford (Rutledge, Tenn.) scored ten points.
Carson-Newman shot a season-low 38 percent from the field.
Lindsey Taylor (Maryville, Tenn.) grabbed a team-high 12 boards to help C-N outrebound UNG 38-35.
Three Nighthawks were in double-figures led by Kendall Emener and Emily Trushel who each scored 16 points. Ansley Hall pitched in 14 points for a North Georgia team that shot 45 percent and made 11 three-pointers.
Carson-Newman breaks for Christmas before returning to action on New Year's Day versus Glenville State. Tipoff between the Lady Eagles and the Pioneers is set for 12:00. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 11:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
