March 30, 2007

JEFFERSON CITY, TN-- Shari Buford scored 24 points and Dean Walsh earned his 100th win as Lady Eagle head coach as Carson-Newman defeated Lenoir-Rhyne, 76-49 in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament.

C-N (20-8) put together a solid defensive effort in holding L-R to an 0-for-15 showing from three-point range and 31% from the field. The Lady Eagles held All-SAC performer and Freshman of the Year Amber Holt to just six points on 2-of-9 shooting. The Lady Eagles shot 43% from the field for the first half and led 32-27 at the break. Buford, who was named to the SAC All-Freshman team this week, scored 15 of her 24 points in the first half.

In the second half, L-R got to within three points on a Denise Moore jumper, but that's as close as L-R would get. The Lady Eagles went on a 16-6 run capped by a Tashea Ledbetter jumper with 10:08 to go and lead 50-37. C-N shot 54% from the field in the second half and were 50% from three-point range.

Stefanie Holbrook hit three of the Lady Eagles four treys and finished with 16 points while Ashley Kyle added nine points. LedBetter led the Lady Eagles with eight rebounds as C-N held the rebounding edge, 44-25. SAC All-Freshman team member Casha Foster dished nine assists while Buford led C-N with three steals.

Denise Moore was the only L-R player in double figures, leading the Lady Bears with 13 points while Jami Safrit added nine points.

The Lady Eagles advances the SAC Tournament semifinals against top seeded Wingate. The game will be played in Hickory, North Carolina on Saturday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m.