Sullivan leads three-point barrage in C-N's blowout win over Clayton State
Carson-Newman (2-1) bounced back from its first loss by putting together an electrifying offensive performance to pummel Clayton State (1-2) 96-58 on Friday afternoon at the UNG Convocation Center.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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34 | 19 | 26 | 17 | 96 |
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16 | 17 | 1 | 24 | 58 |
VIDEO: Jennifer Sullivan Interview
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Carson-Newman (2-1) bounced back from its first loss by drilling 17 three-pointers to pummel Clayton State (1-2) 96-58 on Friday afternoon at the UNG Convocation Center.
"There is a lot to be happy with after today," Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey said. "We took care of the ball early in the game, made shots and obviously Jenn (Jennifer Sullivan) was hitting early. It's just fascinating to me when you look at what happened last weekend. As a coach, it makes you proud that you can go home with a bad taste in your mouth, work on a few things and tell ourselves that's not who we are. I could not have asked for a better response."
After making just 13 three-pointers in its first two games of the season, Carson-Newman would easily surpass that number by making 17 triples in the 38-point win. It's the most made three-pointers in a road or neutral site game since making 19 in a 106-48 road win against Mars Hill on January 24, 2018.
Just a game after shooting its third-worst percentage in the Mincey era, the Lady Eagles answered by making 51.5% of their shots in the win and scoring 96 points. Under Mincey, C-N has now eclipsed the 90-point ledger for the 81st time, while also shooting above 50% for the 81st time as well. C-N has now won 37 straight games when scoring 90 points or more and 26 straight games when reaching just 70 points.
Five different players scored in double-figures for Carson-Newman led by Jennifer Sullivan's (Knoxville, Tenn.) game-high 27 points. The senior guard was sharp, making 10 of her 15 field goals including a career-high seven three-pointers. 22 of those points and six of those three-pointers came in the first half. The Knoxville native also dished out a team-best six dimes.
"This felt really good," Sullivan said. "Especially after the weekend we had at LR. Just being able to come in today and show that we are great shooters and can make shots. Today is definitely a good confidence booster."
Three other starters finished in double-figures as well. Mattie Nuckolls (Chatsworth, Ga.) made six of her nine shots to score 14 points. Keeleigh Rogers (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Caroline Hill (Kingsport, Tenn.) each tossed in 10 points and both made two three-pointers apiece. Off the bench, Karli Haworth (Maryville, Tenn.) scored a career-high 11 points and made three triples. She paced a Lady Eagles bench that scored 31 in the game.
Career-high 7⃣three-pointers for @Jennsullivan02
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) November 21, 2025
5⃣Lady Eagles score in double figures
Career-high1⃣1⃣points for @HaworthKarli
C-N drills 1⃣7⃣three-pointers in a 38 point victory��@CNwbasketball x #TalonsUp pic.twitter.com/MFrDVDQxlS
Clayton State took an early lead at 5-3, but C-N would gain control of the game quickly after by scoring 12 of the next 13 points to lead 15-6 halfway through the period. After a Lakers layup, Carson-Newman's offense would heat up in a hurry. A 10-0 scoring run pushed the lead out to 25-8 with just 2:25 left in the quarter. The Lady Eagles would finish the opening frame by making five of their final six shots to lead by 18 after the opening quarter.
C-N raced out to a quick start in the second frame as well. After a Clayton State basket, Mincey's team scored the next 11 points to increase the lead to 25. The first half advantage peaked up to 27 points after a Mattie Nuckolls (Chatsworth, Ga.) layup at the halfway point of the quarter. A Jennifer Sullivan (Knoxville, Tenn.) three-pointer would be C-N's only basket in the final four minutes of the half and Clayton State would trim the margin to 20 at intermission.
A stellar all-around third quarter led saw the lead balloon out to 46. Carson-Newman's defense forced Clayton State to miss its next 20 shots from the field and go on a field goal drought of 13 minutes and 44 seconds spanning the end of the second, all of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter. Carson-Newman scored 10 points in three minutes to quickly increase the margin out 30. Another 11 points came over four minutes to push the lead out to 41. A Kali McMahan (Jefferson City, Tenn.) three-pointer and a Karli Haworth (Maryville, Tenn.) layup capped a 61 percent shooting period to extend it out to a 44-point game. Clayton State's only point of the third quarter came with three seconds left, one made free throw by Tianna Dismuke.
Carson-Newman's defensive third quarter is the first time its held an opponent without a field goal since keeping Newberry scoreless in the second quarter of a 78-57 victory on January 29, 2022.
C-N's advantage got as high as 48 points after Haworth drilled a triple to start the fourth quarter. It would maintain a 38+ point advantage for all of the fourth quarter. Freshman Delaney Weddington (Morristown, Tenn.) scored her first career collegiate points with a three-pointer at the 2:50 mark. Fittingly, Harmony Sullivan (Morristown, Tenn.) ended the scoring barrage with C-N's 17 three-pointer in the final minute to seal the 38-point win.
The Lakers were led by Jasmyn Burts' 17 points, but she made just six of her 17 field goal attempts. They made just 28 percent of their shots in the game and were only 32 percent on shots they attempted inside the arc.
Carson-Newman closes the Nighthawk Classic against #14 North Georgia tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 3:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. Fans can also view a courtside cam of the Eagle Sports Network broadcasting on press row on YouTube.
Team Stats
Clayton St.
| Game Statistics | Carson-Newman | Clayton St. |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (35-68) | (19-66) |
| Field Goal % | 51.5% | 28.8% |
| Rebounds | 38 | 33 |
| Assists | 23 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 22 | 27 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 28 | 25 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 15 | 13 |
| Pts in the Paint | 24 | 20 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 6 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 31 | 21 |
