Big Second Half Leads Eagles Over Lions

February 13, 2013

Box score

JEFFERSON CITY, TENN.- A big start to the second half paced Carson-Newman to a 61-51 victory over Mars Hill in South Atlantic Conference action Wednesday evening at Holt Fieldhouse.

The Eagles ripped off a 19-5 run over the first 8:35 of the second half to open up a 15-point lead that proved too much for the Lions to overcome. Armeka Booker paced MHC, narrowly missing a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds. Tatum Burstrum and Nikki James scored 16-points apiece for C-N. Mars Hill fell to 5-16 overall and 2-11 in SAC play. Carson-Newman is now 13-7 overall and 7-6 in conference play.

Kristen Metcalf came off the bench to score a season-high 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting for MHC. Kelsey Espinosa added eight points and seven boards. Mars Hill shot 35.1 percent from the field (20-of-57).

Burstrom hit 6-of-15 shots and added four assists for C-N. James hit 6-of-10 from the field. Lacy Miller scored seven points off the bench. The Eagles shot 39.7 percent (25-of-63) from the floor.

The two teams played each other virtually dead even throughout the entire first half, with Mars Hill holding the largest lead of the half at five points. A three by Metcalf followed by a Booker layup gave the Lions a 23-18 lead with 8:10 to play in the half.

Carson-Newman came back to lead by as much as four in the closing minutes of the half before a Metcalf three cut the halftime score to 32-31. Booker scored 16 of her points in the first half to pace the Lions.

The Eagles opened second half on a 19-5 surge to take control of the contest. C-N hit five triples during the run, including three by Burstrom and one by Miller. On the evening, the Eagles hit 6-of-26 from distance (23.1 percent). The run ended with Carson-Newman holding a 51-36 advantage with 11:43 to play.

The Lions cut the deficit to seven when an Espinosa layup cut the score to 57-50 with 4:02 to play, but MHC would get no closer the rest of the way.

Mars Hill will travel to Wingate for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off this Saturday, Feb. 13.