C-N launches 2025-26 campaign with SAC/Peach Belt Challenge
For the 11th time in 12 years, Carson-Newman starts its season with the SAC/Peach Belt Challenge, featuring matchups with Lander and USC Aiken.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
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JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the 11th time in 12 years, Carson-Newman starts its season with the SAC/Peach Belt Challenge, featuring matchups with Lander and USC Aiken.
C-N will battle Lander Saturday at 6:00 p.m. before finishing the weekend at Lenoir-Rhyne's Shuford Arena at 2:00 p.m. Sunday against USC Aiken.
The Lady Eagles are coming off a 2024-25 season that ended with the program's 14th time NCAA Tournament appearance. Mincey has led the program to eight NCAA Tournaments in 14 seasons and in seven of the past eight years. Carson-Newman has won its first-round game at the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.
Head coach Mike Mincey's team led DII in assists per game this past season, averaging 19.1. Carson-Newman dished out 20 or more dimes on 15 occasions.
C-N graduated its four most experienced players in Makayla Alvey, Campbell Penland, Tori Rutherford and Lindsey Taylor. This quartet combined to make 471 appearances and 341 starts together. Penland and Taylor were both 1,000 point scorers and finished in the top ten in scoring all-time for C-N. All-SAC guard Jennifer Sullivan leads the group of returners after leading C-N in scoring at 13.8 points per game this past season. Along with Sullivan, the Lady Eagles return four other players with starting experience.
Carson-Newman was selected second in the South Atlantic Conference's Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Lady Eagles have been picked first or second in the preseason poll six of the past eight seasons.
The Lady Eagles are 35-12 in season openers and have won their openers the past three seasons. Over the past 12 seasons, C-N is 11-1 in the opener and is 11-3 under Mincey.
C-N has been playing the SAC/Peach Belt challenge versus USC Aiken and Lander every season since 2014 with exception to the covid-shortened 2021 season. Carson-Newman has an 18-2 record, with the only two losses coming against Lander in 2016 and 2021.
C-N has won three straight meetings against the Lander Bearcats and leads the all-time series 12-8.
The Lady Eagles have won ten in a row against the USC Aiken Pacers and are coming off a convincing 103-68 win in this past season's meeting. During this winning streak, Mincey's squad has seven double-digit victories that have all come consecutively.
The Bearcats were picked fifth in the Peach Belt Conference's Preseason Coaches' poll. Lander is coming off a 2024-25 campaign in which they finished 14-13 overall and 8-10 in conference play, advancing to the Peach Belt Conference semifinals before falling in a close 59-52 battle against Georgia Southwestern, just one win shy of the championship game.
Lander returns its leading scorer and First-Team All-PBC guard Quadaija Langley. The all-region player scored 16.8 points per game and averaged three assists per game.
USC Aiken begins a new era this weekend after hiring Gannon assistant coach Brittany Batts as the program's new head coach. Batts was the 2023-24 WBCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year at Gannon. While working in the PSAC at Gannon and Shepherd, she coached 11 all-league performers and the national player of the year. With the Golden Knights, the program sported a record of 116-22. During the last four seasons, Batts led the program to Elite Eight appearances the past 2 years and four NCAA Tournaments.
The Pacers were selected to finish 10th in the PBC's preseason poll. Batts' team has 14 student-athletes, including three Division I transfers. The Pacers consist of one senior, two redshirt-juniors, six juniors, a redshirt-sophomore and four freshmen.
Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 4:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
Team Stats
Lander
| Game Statistics | Lander | Carson-Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (23-75) | (24-74) |
| Field Goal % | 30.7% | 32.4% |
| Rebounds | 54 | 49 |
| Assists | 13 | 14 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 13 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 15 | 13 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 17 | 6 |
| Pts in the Paint | 32 | 20 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 6 | 2 |
| Bench Pts | 14 | 10 |
