College players of the week named by TSWA - Jan. 9

January 9, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In one of the most outstanding scoring performances in NCAA Division II history, it was Nick Brenegan 64, Newberry 51 this past Saturday as the Carson-Newman junior guard set numerous records – NCAA, conference and program – hitting 18 3-pointers in the Eagle victory.

For his efforts, Brenegan was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Player of the Week in Men’s Basketball for the week of Jan. 1-7.

Brenegan repeated for the award as he hit 12 treys against Tennessee Wesleyan, but that was just the warm-up. Against Newberry, the Greenville, S.C., native went 18-for-27 from 3-point range to outscore Carson-Newman’s opponent by himself.

The 18 3-pointers made is an NCAA Division II record – and would surpass the Division I record as well with Keith Veney (Marshall, 1996), Josh Wiliams (Robert Morris, 2018) and Jordan Lyons (Furman, 2018) knocking down 15 on the top tier.

Brenegan scored 43 points in the second half alone, setting a C-N record for points in a half. The 64 total points surpassed C-N’s Charles Clark’s single-game scoring record, which was set in 2017 with 54 points against Coker. It is the fifth 60-point scoring night in Division II since 1975 and the 15th if you include Division I. It is the 15th highest scoring night in Division II history.

Inside that run, Brenegan also tied the Division II record for consecutive 3-pointers made with 10.

For the week, Brenegan averaged 35.5 points and three rebounds.

On the women’s side, Tennessee graduate forward Rickea Jackson led the Lady Vols to a 2-0 record this past week, averaging 25.5 points and 13.0 rebounds. In a 75-67 road win at Auburn, Jackson scored 24 points and pulled down 19 rebounds, shooting 8-for-17 from the field.

She followed that up with a 27-point showing against Kentucky as the Lady Vols caged Kentucky 87-69. Jackson went 11-for-18 from the field as she also had seven rebounds and three assists.

For the season, Jackson is averaging 21.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

TSWA announces all-state soccer teams

January 9, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced the all-state teams for girls soccer on Tuesday, which includes three classes in Division I and two classes in Division II.

Class AAA
GK: Anna Wyatt, Bearden, Sr.
GK: Lexi Grundler, Ravenwood, Sr.
D: Hallie McBride, Germantown Houston, So.
D: McKenzie Campbell, Collierville, Sr.
D: Mia McLain, Dobyns-Bennett, Sr.
MF: Aireona Duenez, Oakland, Sr.
MF: Nyla Blue, Bearden, Sr.
MF: Edie Wilds, Knoxville Central, Sr.
MF/F: Ellett Smith, Germantown Houston, Jr.
F: Leah Krugh, Oakland, Jr.
F: Maddie Padelski, Nolensville, Sr.
F: Alivia Stott, Bearden, Sr.

Class AA
GK: Linden Perry, Station Camp, Jr.
GK: Lily Evatt, Greeneville, Jr.
D: Maddie Morris, Station Camp, Jr.
D: Kylee Dewald, Greeneville, Sr.
D: Natalie Crews, South Gibson, Sr.
MF: Sierra Healy, South Gibson, Jr.
MF: Silvia Shirey, Hume-Fogg, Jr.
MF: Elle Lassiter, Station Camp, Jr.
MF/F: Zainab Manneh, Dyersburg, Sr.
F: Charlotte Tymon, Alcoa, Sr.
F: Ayden Wood, Station Camp, Jr.
F: Anna Shaw, Greeneville, Sr.

Class A
GK: Chloe Peevyhouse, Westview, Sr.
GK: Addie Taylor, Liberty Creek, Sr.
D: Tessa Anderson, Westview, So.
D: Bella Henderson, Merrol Hyde, Sr.
D: Niome Merrill, Chuckey-Doak, Sr.
MF: Mary Kinsley Nye, Madison Academic, Jr.
MF: Ava Conway, Kingston, Sr.
MF: Addy Lee, Liberty Creek, So.
MF/F: Ashlee Brent, Westview, Fr.
F: Emma Johnson, Liberty Creek, Sr.
F: Emery Conway, Kingston, So.
F: Stormi Boles, Lakeland Prep, Fr.

Division II-AA
GK: Sara Hill, Baylor School, Jr.
GK: Abby Lankford, Briarcrest Christian, Sr.
D: McKalie Ball, Knox Webb, So.
D: Lauren Alexander, Chattanooga Christian, Jr.
D: Helen Ghertner, Harpeth Hall, Jr.
MF: Breahn Fisher, Ensworth School, Jr.
MF: Sophia Mize, Baylor School, Sr.
MF: Molly Browne, Hutchison, So.
MF/F: Quinn Erim, Harpeth Hall, Jr.
F: Ali Howard, Briarcrest Christian, Jr.
F: Katie Shea Collins, Pope John Paul II, Sr.
F: Elizabeth Stophel, Baylor School, Sr.

Division II-A
GK: Riley Stooksbury, St. George’s, So.
GK: Ellie Karner, Grace Christian-Franklin, Sr.
D: Gabriela Fernandes, Silverdale Baptist, Jr.
D: Lola Padula, Battle Ground Academy, So.
D: Elle Weathersby, St. George’s, Fr.
MF: Allie Broadway, Evangelical Christian, So.
MF: Addie Chapman, Silverdale, Sr.
MF: Lia Sanvee, Evangelical Christian, So.
MF/F: Lilly Teague, University School of Jackson, Fr.
F: Mary Clark Consolo, Sr. George’s, So.
F: Anna Laura Howard, Evangelical Christian, Sr.
F: Mia Powell, University School of Jackson, Sr.

TSWA names college players of the week - Jan. 3

January 2, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman junior guard Nick Brenegan put on an impressive display, knocking down 12 of 25 shots in the Eagles’ 107-83 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan on Dec. 19. Every shot was a 3-point shot.

The 37-point performance – he also added a made free throw in the contest – earned the Greenville, S.C., native the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Player of the Week honor for Men’s Basketball. The award included the games between December 18 through 31 because of the holiday break.

As a team, Carson-Newman knocked down 22 3-pointers in the game to set the program’s single-game record, while Brenegan hit 12 of them himself, eclipsing the individual single-game record of 11 set by Ish Sanders against Mars Hill on Feb. 16, 2011 – the only two Eagles to make more than 10 and take more than 20 in program history.

The team record passed the previous best of 20 hit on Jan. 21, 2009, against Brevard.

The 12 treys are tied for the most by a Division II player this season and the second-most in South Atlantic Conference history.

Brenegan also scored 11 points in a victory over Belmont Abbey on Dec. 30.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Faith Wilken hadn’t played all season as she worked her way back from an injury. Her first game back saw her accompany her Trevecca teammates to 9-1 Kentucky State.

The record didn’t faze the Trojans as the senior from Nolensville scored 17 points in her first game of the season, pulling down seven rebounds. Wilken shot 6-for-11 from the field and was 5-for-5 at the stripe, while also collecting two assists and a steal. She tied with her sister, Lili, for the team-high in points.

Trevecca handed Kentucky State its second loss of the season, winning 85-71 in the non-conference tilt.

TSWA announces players of the week - Dec. 19

December 19, 2023 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman junior guard John Zhao had a tremendous week as he picked up a pair of 20-point scoring nights as he led the Eagles to two road victories last week to earn the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor on Tuesday.

Zhao, a junior guard from Sevierville, scored 23 points in an 83-73 victory over Tusculum, shooting 60 percent from the field and 11-for-12 at the free-throw line, pulling down six rebounds with an assist, two steals and a block.

He followed that performance up with 21 points against Anderson (S.C.) as he was 8-for-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Anderson also collected six rebounds and a steal in the win.

For the week, he averaged 22 points and six rebounds.

On the women’s side, Chattanooga graduate Jada Guinn continued the Mocs’ hot streak as she led them in scoring with 24 points in a victory over Lipscomb and 19 points in a win over Eastern Kentucky.

The Oak Ridge native and Tennessee Tech transfer scored 43 points on the week and has been the leading scorer for the Mocs on their current nine-game winning streak – the second-best start in program history behind a 13-1 start to the 1983-84 campaign.

Guinn has scored 10 or more points in every game this season. She also led the team with nine rebounds and five assists against Lipscomb, while tying her career-high in free throws made with 10. Guinn currently ranks second in the Southern Conference in scoring with an 18.0-point average and 22nd nationally in field goals made (82) and 28th in total points (216).

TSWA honors college players of the week - Dec. 12

December 12, 2023 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca junior guard Jalen Page took the Trojans on the road to Malone – a place they had never won in their last seven tries – then dominated as he pulled together a double-double in the victory to earn this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor.

In the contest, the Murfreesboro native scored 26 points and pulled down 10 boards as he shot 57.1 percent from the field, including 4-for-5 from 3-point range as well as 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Page also had four assists, a block and a steal in the game.

For the week, which also included a contest against Christian Brothers, Page averaged 23.5 points and 9.0 rebounds, shooting 15-for-31 (.484) from the field, 8-for-16 (.500) from 3-point range and 9-for-11 (.818) from the stripe.

On the women’s side, Fisk senior center Maya Buckhanon had a tremendous week in three outings as she averaged 27.3 points and 16.3 rebounds per game. Against Division I North Alabama, Buckhanon scored 29 of Fisk’s 60 points as she was 12-for-18 from the field, while pulling down 11 rebounds.

She followed that effort up with 26 points and 23 rebounds in a 79-51 victory over Wiley (Texas), then completed the week with 27 points and 15 caroms against Arkansas’ Philander Smith in a 71-63 win.

Buckhanon has double-doubles in eight of her nine games this season and has two games with 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds.