JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Newberry took an early lead on ninth-ranked Carson-Newman Saturday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse, but the Lady Eagles saw five players score in double figures and used a decisive second-half run to earn their 16th consecutive home win by a score of 90-53.

Newberry (10-8, 5-6 SAC) trailed by 12 points at the break and traded buckets with Carson-Newman (18-1, 10-1 SAC) throughout much of the early going in the second half. A three-point bucket by Regan McCarty, who scored 10 of Newberry’s 21 points off the bench, cut the deficit to 53-41 with 2:58 to play in the third period.

But the Lady Eagles responded with a 25-0 run over the next 6:46, going 10-for-17 from the field and forcing 10 turnovers while the Wolves misfired on their next six field goal attempts. The lead swelled to as many as 37 points before a three-point bucket by Shelby Britten ended the Carson-Newman run.

“You have to give credit to Carson-Newman,” said Head Coach Sean Page. “We were outcoached and outplayed on every level. Hopefully we can take this and learn from it and continue improving.”

Newberry was led by 16 points from Meg Essex, marking the 16th time in Newberry’s 18 games this season that the junior center has scored in double figures. Shelby Britten chipped in with 11 points to go along with McCarty’s 10 points and five rebounds, one off Hannah Lepaio’s team high. All five Newberry starters contributed at least two assists, helping the Wolves to 17 assists on 21 made field goals.

The Lady Eagles were paced by 17 points from Mika Wester, while Kayla Marosites scored 15 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. Carson-Newman shot an even 50% after the intermission and went 14-for-15 from the free throw line overall. Twenty-five of the Lady Eagles’ points came off of 25 Newberry turnovers, the Wolves’ most in over two years, while Carson-Newman committed just eight turnovers of their own.

Despite taking an early lead the Wolves fell to Carson Newman 90-53 Saturday afternoon.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Basketball-NC-2018.jpgDespite taking an early lead the Wolves fell to Carson Newman 90-53 Saturday afternoon. Courtesy photo

Staff Report