Jan. 16, 2008

Final Stats

Jefferson City, Tenn. --- The Carson-Newman College Eagles edged the Wingate University Bulldogs 74-66 Wednesday night in South Atlantic Conference action at Holt Fieldhouse. With the win, the Eagles improve to 8-7 overall and 3-1 in the SAC. Wingate falls to 9-6 overall, and 3-1 in the conference.

Junior guard Lindsey Eggleston (Buena Vista, Colo.) led the Carson-Newman attack, with 17 points and nine rebounds. Senior forward Emily Mason (Rogersville, Ala.) added 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for the Eagles. Sophomore guard Ashley Kyle (Jefferson City, Tenn.) chipped in with 13 points.

Senior guard Kate Edwards (Laurinburg, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with 16 points. Senior guard Kasey Gillis (Indian Trail, N.C.) chipped in with 15 points. Junior guard Anna Atkinson had 10 points and eight assists for the visitors.

The first half stayed tight throughout, with six ties and eight lead changes. A jumper from Stacie Rhodes (Raleigh, N.C.) capped off an 8-0 Wingate run, giving the Bulldogs a 14-9 lead eight minutes into the game. The Eagles answered with an 8-0 run of their own, capped off by a three pointer from Ashley Tipton (Knoxville, Tenn.) and a free throw from Shari Buford (Hampton, Ga.) for a 17-14 lead.

The teams would trade baskets over the next several minutes, a three-point play from Eggleston gave the Eagles a 30-24 lead with 3:27 remaining. Wingate responded with a 13-7 run to end the half. Edwards had seven points in that stretch, including a jumper right before the buzzer to tie the game at 37. The Bulldogs shot 46 percent from the field in the first half, while assisting on 10 of 15 made baskets. Carson-Newman shot 41 percent from the field, while holding a 24-16 rebounding edge at the break.

The game stayed just as tight throughout the second half. The eagles scored the first four points of the second half to lead 41-37. A three pointer from CC Brooks (Mount Holly, N.C.) gave Wingate a one point lead with 15 minutes remaining. After that, no team would lead by more than four points until the final minute. A Brooks put-back with 13:20 remaining gave Wingate a 45-41 lead. The Eagles quickly tied it on lay-ups from Tashea Ledbetter (Charlotte, N.C.) and Angela Volentine (North Platte, Neb.) with 12:51 remaining.

Amazingly, no team would lead by more than three points until the 2:17 mark, on a pair of free throws from Kyle. Wingate had the answer, with Edwards draining a three pointer to tie the game at 64. Jumpers from Buford and Kyle the next two Carson-Newman possessions gave the Eagles a four point lead with 1:06 remaining. A pair of Gillis free throws cut the lead back to two, but Wingate could get no closer. Tipton, Kyle and Eggleston went six-for-six from the free throw line in the final 29 seconds to secure the eight point win for the Eagles.

Wingate shot 38 percent from the field in the game, while hitting seven-of-16 three point attempts. Carson-Newman shot 42 percent from the field, while going 22-for-28 from the free throw line. The Eagles held a 49-27 rebounding advantage, including a 17-7 edge on the offensive glass. Wingate had 14 steals on the night, led by Atkinson, Edwards and Brittany West (Valdese, N.C.) with three apiece. Sophomore center Erica Crumlin (Irmo, S.C.) had four blocked shots for the Bulldogs, giving her 19 in the last three games.

Wingate returns to action Saturday, when they host Brevard at 2 p.m. in Cuddy Arena. The Eagles hit the road this weekend, when they travel to Tusculum for a 2 p.m. start time.