NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A 22-0 run sparked by Emma Thistle early in the second quarter gave Carthage all the separation it needed in a convincing 30-point win over Meredith College. The Firebirds defense stifled the Avenging Angels in the second quarter, holding them scoreless for its duration - an incredible accomplishment by a very talented group defensively. 

In the win, junior guard Lauren Knight scored her 500th career point. The Firebirds went 1-1 at the Music City Classic, falling to Webster on Thursday, but now return home to Kenosha sitting at 6-6 and winners of three out of their last four games. 




 

• Final score: Carthage 61, Meredith 31. 
• Location: Welch Activities Center - Nashville, Tennessee. 
• Records: Carthage 6-6 (2-1 CCIW), Meredith 1-9 (1-3 USA South). 

 
 

• Ayanna Ester used a personal 5-0 run midway through the opening quarter to give Carthage an early 11-5 lead. Meredith closed the quarter on a 5-1 run to pull to within two, trailing 12-10 at the quarter's conclusion. 
• Emma Thistle started the second quarter on fire, scoring nine unanswered to generate separation between the two teams. Carthage led by 11 after Thistle's burst, and buckets by Orozco and Knight pushed the advantage to 16. 
• Carthage thoroughly dominated the second quarter of play, doing so in historic fashion. The Firebirds held the Avenging Angels scoreless throughout the entire quarter, going on a massive 16-0 run to seize strong control of the game. Although single-quarter defense is not included in the record books, it is almost certain that this defensive feat has scarcely been accomplished. 
• Heading into halftime, the Firebirds led 28-10 and forced 13 Meredith turnovers, in addition to holding the Avenging Angels to 18.2% shooting from the field. Meredith failed to score a single point off of a turnover, a single second chance point, a single fastbreak point, or a single bench point in the half. Thanks to her impressive run to open the second quarter, Emma Thistle led all scorers with nine points heading into the break. 
• Elena Knebel scored the first two baskets of the second half, giving Carthage a 32-10 margin. 
• Carthage's incredible 22-0 run came to an end when Meredith drilled a three-pointer early in the third quarter. The Angels' Piper Carriere hit a pair of threes to bring her team back within 17. 
• Morrissey, Ebeling, and Knebel each converted offensively to maintain the Firebirds' firm lead. Competitive contests on jump shooters and active hands defensively shut down the mini-burst from Meredith on offense, as Carthage led 45-23 after three. 
• An 8-1 run to begin the fourth quarter allowed Carthage to take its largest lead of the game at 29 - as the Firebirds forced a Meredith timeout leading 53-24. 
• Carthage doubled-up Meredith in the final quarter 16-8 and came out on top, winning the game 61-31. 
• The Firebirds held Meredith to a 22/36/36 shooting split, caused 27 turnovers, and didn't surrender a single fastbreak point all game in the win. After turning the ball over 28 times yesterday against Webster, the Firebirds only lost control of the ball 12 times in today's victory. 16 different student-athletes saw the floor against the Angels, while 12 scored at least one point. 
• In the two games at the Music City Classic, Carthage forced a total of 56 turnovers. Now winners of three out of their last four games, the Firebirds hold a point differential of +71 in that span.

 

• Emma Thistle went on a 9-0 run early in the second quarter to spark a 22-0 Carthage run. Thistle also recorded two rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and not a single turnover in 22 minutes. 
• Marianna Morrissey was ever-so-close to a double-double, falling one point short. Morrissey scored nine while gathering a career-high ten rebounds. 
• Performing well as late-game substitutions were Jessie Pakaski (seven points) and Alyssa Orozco (six points). Orozco is now shooting 10/22 from beyond the arc this year (45%). Also scoring as late-game subs for Carthage were Daelah Edwards and Mary Titzer, the latter of which scored her first points as a Firebird. 
• Margueret Spear put forth an impressive showing defensively, shattering her career best with five steals. 

• The Firebirds fly home from Tennessee and restart CCIW competition, with Carroll University first on the docket. Carthage's matchup with the Pios at Tarble Arena will take place on Wednesday, January 4 beginning at 7 p.m.