C-N Falls in Fast-Paced Exhibition Matchup Against Tennessee
October 31, 2024

C-N Falls in Fast-Paced Exhibition Matchup Against Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Facing a stout test, Carson-Newman showed some bright spots but couldn’t overcome 43 turnovers in a 135-49 exhibition loss to the Tennessee Lady Vols inside Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.

VIDEO: Mike Mincey Press Conference

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Facing a stout test, Carson-Newman showed some bright spots but couldn't overcome 43 turnovers in a 135-49 exhibition loss to the Tennessee Lady Vols inside Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.

"I knew it was going to be a really tough basketball game," head coach Mike Mincey said. "I knew coach [Kim] Caldwell's style would only intensify with the level of players they have here… We were thin tonight… They were rotating a lot, and that's what they do. They wear you down, which makes things super difficult… They kept the press until about five minutes left, which I appreciate because we need that. Don't take it off of us; keep pressing us and see if we can do better, whether it's our starters or the bench."

Despite the lopsided score, C-N can take a handful of positives from the exhibition effort in Knoxville, especially a double-digit scoring effort from Tennessee Tech transfer Jennifer Sullivan (Knoxville, Tenn.) and other new Eagles debuting on a big stage.

Tennessee opened the game on a 6-0 run before C-N got on the board courtesy of a Sullivan triple. Emily Gonzalez (Lenoir City, Tenn.) cashed in a mid-range jump shot to steady C-N in a fast-paced first frame to head into the under-five timeout trailing by five.

 The Lady Vols' pressure eventually paid off in the first quarter. From the 5:46 mark to the end of the frame, they went on a 21-3 run, forcing 11 Eagle turnovers and holding a sizable 23-point advantage at the quarter break.

C-N had an improved second quarter, shooting an improved 42.9% from the field, but the Lady Vols kept the pressure on, forcing 14 C-N turnovers.

However, the Eagles continued to fight through the Tennessee pressure to find open looks from three, knocking down three triples in the frame. Sullivan cashed in her second, Campbell Penland (Sevierville, Tenn.) knocked down her first, and Madelyn Ladd (Harriman, Tenn.) made her stamp on the game with a triple to break up a Tennessee scoring run. Despite the effort, C-N faced a 31-point halftime deficit.

C-N delivered its best scoring effort of the night in the third with a 17-point frame. Lindsey Taylor (Maryville, Tenn.) got on the board with a five-point frame, while Jennifer Sullivan continued her solid effort with five points of her own. Freshman Caroline Hill (Kingsport, Tenn.) capped off C-N's third quarter on the long ball, cashing in from distance for her first points of the evening. Despite the Lady Vols growing their advantage, C-N shot a game-high 7-of-14 from the field.

The Eagles took just 11 shots in the fourth quarter, and the Vols outscored C-N 30 to 9 in the final frame. However, Lindsey Taylor upped her scoring total to nine with four points in the frame, Jennifer Sullivan scooped in a layup to bring her final total to 15, and Emily Gonzalez rattled home a three.

Five Lady Vols finished in double figures, led by Ruby Whitehorn with 29. Jewel Spear and Zee Spearman finished with 17 apiece.

C-N finished the exhibition matchup shooting 37 percent from the field, knocking down eight threes. Despite promising efforts from a handful of Eagles, the Lady Vols capitalized off the C-N mistakes, turning 43 turnovers into 52 points on the other end.

Tennessee established its presence inside, scoring 58 points in the paint. The Lady Vols also had a barrage from behind the arc, knocking down 20 threes.

Jennifer Sullivan led The Eagles in the scoring column, tallying 15 points. Lindsey Taylor added nine for C-N, while Emily Gonzalez finished with seven.

The Eagles' regular season tips off on November 9th, facing Lander in the first of two games at the SAC/Peach Belt Conference Challenge in Greenwood, South Carolina.

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