Hot start, bench play propels C-N to 42-point win over E&H
January 7, 2026

Hot start, bench play propels C-N to 42-point win over E&H

EMORY, Va. – Just more than four minutes in, Carson-Newman (10-3, 6-1 SAC) gained a double-digit lead that it would never relinquish, dominating Emory & Henry 105-63 on Wednesday night at the King Center.

VIDEO: Highlights

VIDEO: Mike Mincey Interview

VIDEO: Caroline Hill Interview

EMORY, Va. – Just more than four minutes in, Carson-Newman (10-3, 6-1 SAC) gained a double-digit lead that it would never relinquish, dominating Emory & Henry 105-63 on Wednesday night at the King Center.

Carson-Newman extends its winning streak to six games, and has now won four straight road games, its longest road winning streak since the 2021-22 season.

"I was happy with the first quarter and how the starts came out," Carson-Newman head coach Mike Mincey said. "Was super glad to see the bench come in and be efficient. That's what we need to have success this year. We can't rely on five to six players, we need to rely on eight to ten players. For these bench players to come in and score 65 points, that's unheard of. Super proud of the effort."

The Lady Eagles got 65 points from its bench, the most in a game in at least the past 24 seasons. It's the second time in the past 24 years that the program got 60 or more bench points, scoring 61 on February 12, 2020 versus Lenoir-Rhyne in a 102-66 win.

Caroline Hill and Karli Haworth led the bonkers performance from the bench, each scoring 16 points in the win, with Haworth's 16 being a career-high. The duo each made four three-pointers and combined to shoot 11 of 19 from the field.

"I thought it was really good," Hill said. "Everyone showed up and scored and that's really good that we can do that mid-season. I think it helps us as a team having everybody contribute and it makes us so much better."

Carson-Newman hit the century mark in scoring for the 35th time under Mincey and for the first time since January 15, 2025, when it scored 108 versus UVA Wise in Holt Fieldhouse. The Lady Eagles made 51 percent of their shots, including 40 percent marks or better in each of the four quarters. C-N has made 50 percent of its shots or better 83 times under Mincey.

The Lady Eagles also remain unbeaten in eight all-time meetings with the Wasps, having scored 70 or more in each win.

Carson-Newman came out red-hot to start the game. Four different players combined to make four of the team's first five shots, three of which were three-pointers, to jump out to an 11-2 lead just two minutes into the game. That offensive success continued through the entire first quarter. The Lady Eagles used an 8-0 scoring run to push the lead out to 19-4. They would end the quarter just as well as they started, making six of their final seven shots led by Caroline Hill making three triples and C-N led 36-17 after one quarter. C-N shot 67% in the first frame and made eight three-pointers.

Those absurd shooting percentages set the stage for C-N to control the remainder of the contest. It scored the first five points of the second to gain its largest lead of the first half at 24. C-N's bench scored 12 of the 21 second quarter points to help take a 57-35 lead into the halftime.

Emory & Henry was able to draw within 15 early in the third. C-N came up empty on its first five possessions of the frame and E&H rattled off seven points to make it 57-42. After a C-N timeout, Mincey's group would regain its footing. Another 8-0 scoring run over just one minute of play lifted the lead back out to 22. Over the final four minutes of the third quarter, the Lady Eagles outscored the Wasps 16-2 to lead by 32 heading into the final quarter. Karli Haworth (Maryville, Tenn.) led of quarter scoring surge by scoring nine of those points.

Into the fourth quarter, Carson-Newman would utilize another scoring run over three minutes to extend the margin. A Cybil Penland (Sevierville, Tenn.) layup helped kickstart a 10-0 run to make it 95-56. Kali McMahan (Jefferson City, Tenn.) scored six of the final 10 points for the Eagles in a 105-63 rout of E&H.

Carson-Newman's final 33 points were scored by its bench.

Joining Haworth and Hill in double-figures was Mattie Nuckolls, Jennifer Sullivan and Kali McMahan. Nuckolls scored 14 points on six of 11 shooting, Sullivan scored 12 points on three made field goals and McMahan made five of her six fourth quarter shots.

Almost as impressively, C-N assisted on 37 of its 40 field goals. Those 37 assists are tied for the second-most in a game in program history. Hill led the way with a career-high six helpers, and also tied for the team lead in rebounding with five. Six other Lady Eagles dished out at least three assists and five had four or more.

Carson-Newman's defense held its opponent below 37 percent shooting for the seventh straight game, holding E&H to just 33 percent shooting. The Wasps feasted from the line where they made 19 of their 25 attempts.

The three-point line was a big advantage for C-N where it made 14 of its 38 attempts. E&H was just six of 25 from deep.

Mincey's team was terrific on the glass, outrebounding E&H 50-29 and 17-7 on the offensive glass.

Playing without its top three scorers, E&H was led by Rhyan Harris' 11 points on three for six shooting.

Carson-Newman ends its four-game road swing when it visits Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday afternoon. Tip off with the Wasps is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 1:45 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A live camera of the broadcast crew "On Press Row" will also be available on YouTube.

On Press Row Highlights Game Notes Audio Video Box Score (PDF) Box Score Preview