Williams, Seniors Finish Strong Against LMU, 68-62

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles closed the game on a 21-5 run to overcome a 10-point deficit and beat Lincoln Memorial, 68-62, in South Atlantic Conference action on Wednesday night  in Holt Fieldhouse.

The Lady Eagles move to 9-8 in SAC play and 15-10 overall.

C-N trailed 57-47 with 11:34 left to play, but, as they have at home all season, found a way to put things together down the stretch. 

The Lady Eagles held LMU without a point over the next six minutes and scrapped together an 11-0 run to complete the season sweep of LMU.

"I was very proud of how we responded after LMU had taken it to us," Lady Eagle head coach Mike Mincey said after the game. "Instead of folding, we kept our poise and made plays."

Fittingly, C-N's seniors led the way in their final game in Holt Fieldhouse. The group finishes the season 7-2 in SAC play at home.

Lady Eagle guard Lundyn Howard (Chattanooga, Tenn.) knocked a three-pointer and guard Megan Hunter (Ashland City, Tenn.) added a jumper as the Lady Eagles rallied, but the run, and the night, belonged to senior forward Zoriah Williams (Calera, Ala).

Williams led C-N with 22 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, two shy of the school record held by three different players.

"For (Zoriah) to finish her career in Holt with 22 points and 18 rebounds is something special," Mincey added. "Our seniors had 42 points out of group that hasn't been a scoring group, but they carried us tonight." 

Howard's three gave the Lady Eagles a 58-57 edge with five minutes to play, but LMU answered as Ralissa Nelson scored two of her game-high 24 points to give the Railsplitters a 59-58 lead with 4:57 to play.

C-N's Shannon Depew (Newport, Tenn.) answered with a runner in the lane and Williams and Hunter would spark Carson-Newman in transition as the Lady Eagles put together a 6-0 run in the final two minutes to grab the win.

Williams finished 8-of-21 from the floor, but was 6-of-11 in the second half. She had 17 second-half points. Her 22 points is one shy of her career high, set three different times during her career.

Both teams rode their post game during a see-saw first half.

Center Lauren Cochran had 11 for the Railsplitters in the half to lead LMU to a 33-31 lead at the break.

C-N answered with seven points out of Courdne Miles (Burlington, N.C.) and five from Williams.

Hunter led the Lady Eagles with 10 first-half points, connecting on 4-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.

The Railsplitters led for the majority of the first half, although never by more than five points. C-N cut a 33-28 LMU lead to two on a free throw Williams and a jumper from Hunter in the final minute.

Nelson led finished 8-of-12 from the floor and was 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. She also had five rebounds. Coachran added 18 points for the Railsplitters

C-N outrebounded LMU, 51-38, and had a 9-3 advantage in steals.

Carson-Newman wraps up its regular season on Saturday at Anderson (S.C.) Tipoff is at 2 p.m.