Burstrom’s clutch free throws leads Lady Eagles to 68-67 win
November 16, 2014

Burstrom’s clutch free throws leads Lady Eagles to 68-67 win

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Junior guard Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.) buried two free throws with 7.2 seconds left in the game to propel the Carson-Newman Lady Eagles (1-0) to a 68-67 win over the USC Aiken Pacers (0-1) Saturday night at Holt Fieldhouse.

VIDEO: Mike Mincey Interview

VIDEO: Tatum Burstrom Interview

VIDEO: Game Highlights

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Junior guard Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.) buried two free throws with 7.2 seconds left in the game to propel the Carson-Newman Lady Eagles (1-0) to a 68-67 win over the USC Aiken Pacers (0-1) Saturday night at Holt Fieldhouse.

"We had a play drawn up just to try to get in there and get fouls because we are in the bonus trying to make something happen," Burstrom said. "We just tried to get it into someone's hands and take it in there and get fouled and that's what we did."

The contest featured 11 ties and 15 lead changes. In the final eight minutes of the game, neither side held a lead of greater than four points. A three-pointer from sophomore guard Kailyn Brooks (Lafayette, Tenn.) gave the Lady Eagles a 58-57 lead with 4:13 to play.

The Pacers responded with a three-pointer to go on top 60-58. Each team hit a pair of free throws before freshman forward Jessica Simerly (Talbott, Tenn.) sank a free throw to give Carson-Newman a late 63-62 advantage. Kate Duff buried a three and got fouled to put the Pacers back on top 65-63. Each side made a layup to put USC Aiken on top 67-65 with 1:21 remaining.

Each team missed wide open looks on their next possessions and with 45 seconds left in the contest Brooks drove baseline and earned a trip to the foul line. The sophomore guard made one of two free throws to make it 67-66.

The Lady Eagles earned a stop at the defensive end and called a timeout with 17 seconds left in the game. After passing the ball around the perimeter, Burstrom popped out to the top of the key to receive the basketball. The Maryville native drove down the lane and got fouled on a layup attempt. Burstrom calmly sank a pair of free tosses to give Carson-Newman a one-point lead.

USC Aiken had a glimpse at the bucket from the left block as time expired but it hit the left side of the rim before falling into the arms of senior forward Whitney Kyle (Jefferson City, Tenn.).

"The kids never gave up," Mincey said. They kept battling. We haven't been in a close game and so you need to go through these type of games so that late in the year you can pull it out and for Tatum to step up there with 7.2 seconds to knock down the free throws, what a champion."

Burstrom finished the game with 16 points four assists and three rebounds as she buried four three-point field goals. Junior guard Jai Jai McLaughlin (Knoxville, Tenn.) led Carson-Newman with 17 points as she converted 7-of-8 free throws.

"In a way I'm kind of disappointed with how we played, but that's a good team," head coach Mike Mincey said. "They are going to win a lot of games this year. Maybe I will look back at this one and say that it was a really good W. I don't think we played all that well, but we still put up 68 points and had some good things happen. I know it's going to be a quality win. I just need to look at it that way."

Carson-Newman moved to 22-4 in the Mike Mincey era when the Lady Eagles attempt at least 25 free throws as Mincey's group went 22-for-27 at the stripe.

Mackenzie Reese led the way for the Pacers with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Duff chipped in 11 points.

Carson-Newman finishes the SAC/Peachbelt Conference Challenge Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Check out the "AEC Countdown to Tip-off" beginning at 2:45 with a video stream available on cneagles.com/live.

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