(Saturday, March 12, 2005)

NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball South Atlantic Regional Championship

Semifinals - Raleigh , North Carolina

Johnson’s 39 Points Powers Carson-Newman Over Clayton State

            RALEIGH, NC – Carson-Newman College freshman center Brooke Johnson poured in a season-high 39 points to lead the Lady Eagles to a 75-61 victory over Clayton College & State University during the semifinals of the 2005 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball South Atlantic Regional Championship inside C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in Raleigh, NC.

            Johnson made 13-of-15 shots from the field and 13-of-14 free throws during her dominating 39-point performance, while adding 10 rebounds for her 11^th double-double of the season. Carson-Newman senior Tiffany Parker also recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards, while junior Brittaney Gooch added 12 points for the Lady Eagles.

            Clayton State was topped by senior Jamika Hindsman with 21 points and seven steals, while junior Shelcey Harp contributed 18 points and a team-best six rebounds.

            The Lakers forced Carson-Newman into 28 turnovers, compared to just nine miscues of their own, for a 29-3 advantage in points off turnovers.

            However, Clayton State hit just 32.4 percent (23-of-71) of its shot attempts from the field, while the Lady Eagles connected on 57.8 percent (26-of-45), including a blistering 70.6 percent (12-of-17) in the second half. Carson-Newman also enjoyed a convincing 46-28 rebounding advantage.

            “This was an intense game, and we knew we had to handle their pressure,” said Carson-Newman head coach Dean Walsh. “They beat us pretty good at their place due to the fact that we did not shoot the ball well and we did not handle pressure.  Tonight we still had too many turnovers, but our girls did a great job of executing and hitting the boards.”

            Walsh was also impressed with Johnson’s dominating performance, saying, “(Brooke) showed me some things tonight that I did not know she was capable of doing.”

            The 6-foot-3 rookie center handled the praise modestly. “We knew what had to be done, and any opportunity I saw I took it,” said Johnson. “When your guards are getting you the ball the way my guards were getting it to me, it makes it kind of easy.”

            Clayton State rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to take a 51-49 lead on a lay-up by April Taylor at 10:42.

            Carson-Newman responded with a 19-4 run, as Johnson scored 13 points during the decisive stretch, to go ahead by 13 points at 68-55 with 2:05 left in the contest.

            Saturday’s setback for Clayton State (25-7) was its first loss since Feb. 2, ending an 11-game win streak.

            Carson-Newman (25-7) advances to the regional championship game on Monday (March 14) to face the winner of the Shaw University versus Wingate University contest at 7 p.m.