Women's Basketball Loses at Carson-Newman

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Lions lost to Carson-Newman 85-67 Wednesday night in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action in Holt Fieldhouse. Mars Hill fell to 2-9 overall and 1-6 in the league. The Eagles improved to 9-4 on the season and 6-1 in the SAC.

Ansley Ricker led MHU with 18 points connecting on 6-8 of her attempts from the floor, 3-3 from behind the arc and 3-4 at the foul line. She added three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Kelsey Espinosa and Autumn Ward followed with 11 points apiece. Espinosa pulled down a team high nine rebounds in the contest.

Kaitlyn Cupples led Carson-Newman with 15 points. She was joined in double-digit scoring by Lashawnda Peacher with 12 points along with Kailyn Brooks and Taylor Peterson who tallied 10 points each for the Eagles. C-N edged the Lions on the boards, 39-36. The Eagles scored 42 points in the paint, 30 points off Lion miscues and received 51 points off their bench.

Carson-Newman never trailed in the game. The Eagles began the contest on a 7-0 run. A 3-pointer by Autumn Ward brought the Lions within four points (9-5) of C-N at the 15:06 mark but the Eagles answered out scoring MHU 13-6 over the next four minutes to take an 11-point advantage with 11:23 left in the half after Chante Markus hit a shot in the lane. The Lions trimmed the deficit to seven points on three occasions in the first period but a 7-0 run to close out the final minutes of the first frame allowed the Eagles to take a 37-24 lead into the locker room at the break.

MHU fought back in the second half and cut the Eagles' lead to 10 points (48-38) with 12:59 left in regulation after Ward nailed a 3-pointer. C-N answered by going on a 7-2 run to go ahead by 15 points (55-40) with 11:32 on the clock. A shot from behind the arc by Ricker with 10:32 left in the game cut the deficit to nine points (56-47) but that was as close as the Lions would get.

Mars Hill will play at SAC foe Newberry on Saturday. Tip-off is Eleazer Arena is set for 2 p.m.