VIDEO: Karli Haworth Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (20-6, 17-5 SAC) pulled away late against Emory & Henry (7-21, 2-20 SAC) to win a fifth straight game and give head coach Mike Mincey his 200th career win in South Atlantic Conference games.
"Obviously got out to a good start and found Lindsey (Taylor) early," Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey said. "Those easy buckets kind of helped the others shoot well. Credit to Emory & Henry in this game and how they played. I thought they were a challenge to guard in the halfcourt. After that first quarter, our scoring just kind of came to a halt. Third quarter was disappointing because it has been our best quarter all season. They cut it to six, and we had to make some tough baskets late. Tori's threes late were huge to give us a cushion and carry out the win."
No coach in SAC history has more conference wins than Mincey and he is the second winningest coach in the conference's history with 283 career wins, the most among active coaches in the league as well.
The victory is C-N's fifth straight and 20th this season. It's the 23rd 20-win season in the program's 44-year history. It's the seventh 20+ win season coached by Mincey, all of which have come in the past nine seasons.
The Lady Eagles have won six straight games in Holt Fieldhouse and 10 of the 11 wins are by double-digits. They remain unbeaten in the seven all-time meetings with E&H.
Lindsey Taylor (Maryville, Tenn.) was Carson-Newman's main source of offense, scoring 28 points on 14 of 18 shooting. 18 of those points came in a first half where she was nine of 11 from the field.
Jennifer Sullivan (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed in behind scoring wise with 16 points on six of 13 shooting with a team-best four made three-pointers. Sullivan came up a rebound shy of her second career double-double. Tori Rutherford (Rutledge, Tenn.) scored 11 and made two three-pointers. Karli Haworth (Maryville, Tenn.) was C-N's fourth double-figure scorer, going for a career-high 10 points, making two triples.
Carson-Newman used a 9-0 scoring run in a two-minute stretch to open up an 18-6 lead with 5:45 to play in the opening quarter. Lindsey Taylor scored six straight points and the Eagles buried two late triples to by 15 after one quarter.
E&H would cut into C-N's lead. The Wasps offense made five straight shots from the field and brought the game back to single digits with 5:28 left in the half. Carson-Newman ended the second period on a strong note, forcing E&H to miss eight of its final ten shots in the first half to lead by 16 at the break. The Lady Eagles scored seven of the final nine points.
With her first made three-pointer at the 1:51 mark of the second period, Campbell Penland (Sevierville, Tenn.) moved into third place all-time in three-pointers made in program history with her 223rd career triple.
"She's been an integral part of what we've tried to accomplish ever since her freshman year," Mincey said. "Really smart player. She obviously shoots threes very well, but her game has expanded a lot over the years with her ability to get down hill to the rim. As of late, her three ball has been her best weapon and she will go down in the record books as one of the best shooters."
Both teams got out to a slow start offensively in the third, but especially C-N eight of its first 10 shots but still led by 12 with 4:52 to play in the third quarter. E&H got within six points with 4:09 left in the period. It would score five of the final seven points to make it a nine-point game heading to the fourth quarter.
C-N began the fourth very well. Taylor scored six points to help push the lead quickly out to 16 three minutes into the quarter. The Lady Eagles went on another 7-0 scoring burst later in the quarter to put the game out of reach. Baskets from Rutherford and Nuckolls extended the lead to 22 with four minutes to play. E&H would fight to the final whistle, scoring nine of the final 12 points to make it a 16-point margin in the end.
The Lady Eagles made double-digit three-pointers for the fourth straight game, nailing 11 of their 33 attempts. It's the 12th time this season with ten or more threes.
C-N assisted on 26 of their 32 baskets, led by Makayla Alvey's nine assists, matching her career-high.
Emory & Henry was led by Breanna Yarber's 20 points and eight rebounds. She made nine of her 17 shots.
SCORIGAMI! The 84-68 final score is the 838th most unique score in program history.
Carson-Newman has the next week off, returning to action next Wednesday evening at Lincoln Memorial. Tipoff between the Lady Eagles and Railsplitters 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.
