Lady Eagles Travel to Anderson Saturday
Nov. 21, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. The Carson-Newman women's basketball team will return from a six-day layoff Saturday when it travels to Anderson University for a 2 p.m. contest at the Abney Center.
The Lady Eagles are 2-0 on the season with wins over Lander and Lees-McRae in the Eagle Club Classic at Holt Fieldhouse last weekend. Carson-Newman scored 92 points in both contests.
"We will hopefully continue to improve with what we are trying to do," said Carson-Newman head coach Dean Walsh, whose squad has switched to a more up-tempo style of offense in 2008-09.
"This will be a test, not only against a good nationally ranked opponent, but also a test of how we perform away from the comforts of home."
Jefferson County native Ashley Kyle (5-6, guard) led the Lady Eagles in scoring for both contest and is averaging 17.5 points per game. Senior forward Lindsey Eggleston (Buena Vista, Colo.) has come off the bench in both contest to average double figures in rebounding.
Carson-Newman has shot 51 percent from the field and 32 percent from behind the arc in its two wins.
This game will mark the return of senior guard Angela Volentine (North Platte, Neb.), who tore her ACL in the final game of the 2007-08 season. Volentine started all 29 games for the Lady Eagles a year ago, averaging 9.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. She ranked 13th in the South Atlantic Conference in three-point percentage.
Anderson University was ranked 24th in NCAA Division II national rankings, but suffered a 64-46 loss to No. 20 USC-Aiken its season opener last Sunday. The Lady Trojans went 28-4 a year ago, including a 72-71 win over Carson-Newman at Holt Fieldhouse.
Anderson is led by preseason All-Conference Carolinas selections Keana Boyd and Genia Holbrook. Boyd (5-7, senior guard) paced the Lady Trojans in scoring a year ago with 13.4 points per game, while Holbrook (5-11, senior forward) averaged 6.6 rebounds.
First-year head coach Jim Brunelli should also reap the benefits of 6-foot-4 center Kirsten Peterson - a transfer from the University of Albany.
"Anderson loves to shoot the three," Walsh noted. "They are a solid, athletic team that does not want to push the tempo. They are very fundamental, with excellent rebounders and good ball handlers."
Walsh said the matchup between the two squads will be an interesting one, with his fast-paced Lady Eagles against the methodical, half-court Anderson squad.
"It will be a game of two contrasting styles," Walsh added.
