VIDEO: Mattie Nuckolls Interview
VIDEO: Tori Rutherford Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – No. 25 Carson-Newman (14-4, 11-3 SAC) drilled a season-high 17 three-pointers and outscored Wingate (10-6, 9-3 SAC) by 30 points after halftime to run away with an 88-54 victory on Saturday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse.
For the second straight season, Carson-Newman has reset its largest margin of victory against the Bulldogs. Last season, C-N won by 29 points at home and now this season upped it by five points with a 34-point win.
The Lady Eagles put together an unreal second half of basketball. It was a 31-27 game at halftime and then C-N went bonkers after halftime. It outscored WU 57-27 in the second half and made 53 percent of its shots and 10 three-pointers.
"We shot the ball extremely well in the second half," Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey said. "We made 10 three-pointers and eight in that third quarter. We got out in transition, got offensive rebounds. Once we hit some shots and built the lead to double-figures, I could just see our kids' confidence grow and it went on from there. We coupled that with defending really well like we have."
Carson-Newman made 17 three-pointers, its most in a game since making 18 versus UVA Wise in 2020. Multiple Lady Eagles had career-best shooting days to in the long-range masterclass. Tori Rutherford (Rutledge, Tenn.) led C-N in scoring with a career-high 22 points on eight for 12 shooting. She made a career-high five three-pointers to lead the team as well. Emily Gonzalez (Lenoir City, Tenn.) made a career-high three three-pointers, two of which came in the first 90 seconds of the game and finished with 11 points.
Mattie Nuckolls (Chatsworth, Ga.) did the same, drilling a career-high three triples to finish with a career-high 15 points in her third career start. Her efforts were also massive on the defensive end of the floor, where she blocked nine shots, one shy of tying the program record for blocks in a game in school history.
"Mattie has been a game-changer for us," Mincey said. "We began starting her at the four and I think she earned that right and she has continued to earn that right. She is just a super versatile player, in both defending near the rim and certainly in shooting. Her offensive numbers have been so consistent."
A game after going for a career-high 29 points, Jennifer Sullivan (Knoxville, Tenn.) was terrific as a distributor in the 34-point win. The junior guard still scored 17 points, but finished with a career-high 10 assists. She is the first Lady Eagle to record a double-double with points and assists since Mika Wester's 18 points and 11 assists in a regional semifinal win over Lander in 2018.
Abigail Johnson was C-N's fifth player to score in double-figures. She made all four of her shots for 10 points and also snared down five rebounds.
It was a slow start offensively for both sides. Carson-Newman made three of its first 11 eleven shots, all of which were three-pointers and led 9-7 with 4:42 remaining in the first period. The Lady Eagles led by as many as seven, but Wingate drew back within two points after one quarter. C-N made five first quarter three-pointers.
It took both sides nearly three minutes to put the first points of the second quarter on the board. After Wingate's basket, C-N scored the next seven points capped off by a Sullivan three-pointer to lead by seven again at the halfway point of the second quarter. WU would answer with a mini 6-0 run to draw within a point. Carson-Newman would score five of the final seven points to lead by four at intermission.
The Lady Eagles never trailed in the opening half but never led by more than seven points.
After a Bulldogs bucket to start the third quarter, C-N rattled off the next eleven points. Sullivan, Rutherford and Nuckolls all nailed three-pointers to extend the margin to 42-29 at the 7:19 mark. C-N's defense extended the lead out to 15 points halfway through the quarter. Rutherford stole the ball and took it the length of the floor to increase C-N's lead to 49-34. That would be the start of a 16-0 scoring run over the next three minutes to build a 60-34 lead with 2:18 left in the third period. C-N took a 25-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Eagles scored 16 of the first 19 points of the fourth quarter to expand the lead out to 40 points with less than four minutes remaining. Wingate made its first three-pointer with 1:24 left in the game and scored nine of the last 12 points.
Career days from @torijrutherford and @MattieNuckolls5
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) January 18, 2025
1⃣7⃣ three-pointers
1⃣7⃣pts and 1⃣0⃣ast for @Jennsullivan02
A phenomenal second half from the Lady Eagles leads to a third-straight win��@CNwbasketball x #TalonsUp pic.twitter.com/EXxPWFmfW5
Carson-Newman held Wingate to 30 percent shooting and forced 16 turnovers. The Lady Eagles turn those turnovers into 23 points.
Wingate was led by Anna Baraldi's 12 points on four made baskets.
C-N won the battle on the glass, outrebounding WU 45-37 and by three on the offensive glass. Lindsey Taylor (Maryville, Tenn.) was the top rebounder with eight, while six others had at least five boards.
Carson-Newman finished with a season-high 14 blocks, its most blocks in a game since recording 14 in a 81-76 loss to Wingate back on Nov 27, 2021.
SCORIGAMI! The 88-54 final score is the 834th most unique score in program history.
Carson-Newman is back in action on the road against Mars Hill. Tipoff between the Lady Eagles and Lions is set for 5:30 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 5:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
