December 5, 2008
Carson-Newman basketball coaches aiming for milestone victories
Dec. 5, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. – Both of Carson-Newman's basketball coaches will be going for milestone wins Saturday as Lincoln Memorial visits Holt Fieldhouse to tip off the 2008-09 South Atlantic Conference season.
The women's contest will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m.
Women's head coach Dean Walsh is one win away from No. 250, but more importantly, his Lady Eagles will be looking to improve to 7-0 on the young season.
"I guess it just means I've been coaching for a while and have been involved in a lot of contest," said Walsh of reaching No. 250. In his 14th year as a head coach, he has compiled a 249-129 record.
"I think the wins are a reflection on the talent I've been able to coach," he added. "You don't win games with bad players. I've also been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by good coaches which have helped me a long the way."
The Lady Eagles are coming off an 81-68 victory over Maryville College in which they shot just 35 percent from the field.
Lincoln Memorial enters the contest with a 4-2 record, and boasts the conference's top scorer in junior forward Andi Winney (17.0 ppg). Sophomore guard Stephanie Wagner is the fourth-best scorer in the league at 16.3 ppg. They are the only two players for the Lady Railsplitters averaging double figures.
"(LMU) is very well coached," said Walsh. "I've known (head coach) Stephanie Smith for many years and she has always won wherever she has been.
"We will have to bring our 'A' game. If we bring the game we brought the other night (against Maryville) then we will get our first 'L' of the season."
On paper, the matchup tilts favorably toward Carson-Newan. The Lady Eagles boast the top scoring offense (89.7 ppg) in the conference, while Lincoln Memorial ranks next to last in scoring defense.
Carson-Newman has five players averaging double figures, led by local product Ashley Kyle at 16.5 ppg. She is followed by Shari Buford (13.3), Lindsey Eggleston (11.8), Ashley Tipton (10.5) and Mandy Mendenhall (10.3).
Eggleston and Buford also rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the conference in rebounding.
The Lady Eagles won both meetings between the two schools last season, by finals of 72-59 at LMU and 74-67 at home.
In the men's contest, Carson-Newman head coach Dale Clayton will be making his second try for win No. 300 after his Eagles fell to Maryville College 95-91 Wednesday night.
The Eagles are currently 3-4 overall, while Lincoln Memorial brings a 4-2 record to the contest.
Carson-Newman ranks first in the conference in scoring offense (102.3 ppg), but dead last in scoring defense (97.5). The Railsplitters boast the third-best defense in the SAC, allowing just 66 ppg.
D'Mario Curry, a 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, has been the top scorer for LMU this year, averaging 12.7 points per game.
The Eagles have four players averaging double digits: Joey Cameron (17.4), Jesse McMurray (10.6), Jordan Dixon (10.1) and Darron Maxtion (11.9).
Carson-Newman won both meetings between the two schools last season, 92-87 at LMU and 102-85 in Jefferson City.
