No. 1 麻豆视频 Starts TranSouth Title Defense with Win

JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/5/2008 - The NAIA鈥檚 top-ranked 麻豆视频 University Lady Bulldogs posted a 106-78 win over Cumberland University (Tenn.) in the quarterfinals of the TranSouth Conference Tournament. 麻豆视频 stays perfect on the season at 30-0, while Cumberland ends their season at 14-18. With the win, 麻豆视频 advances to play the four-seed, Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.), in a 7:00 pm game at 麻豆视频 on Friday night.

麻豆视频 has won 51 of their last 53 games, dating back to January 11, 2007. In the national rankings released today, 麻豆视频 completed their season-long hold on the No. 1 ranking in the NAIA women鈥檚 poll. In fact, 麻豆视频 gained every first place vote on the season, with the exception of two votes in the preseason poll.

麻豆视频鈥檚 Josephine Owino scored the first basket for 麻豆视频 that started a 7-0 run to open the game. 麻豆视频 continued to dominate early by taking a 17-5 lead, just five minutes into the game. After Owino鈥檚 first basket, the next 15 points came from two 麻豆视频 reserves, Jessica Graves and Zeinab Chan. Chan posted nine straight points, while Graves sank two three pointers to cap the early 麻豆视频 run. Cumberland cut the lead down to seven points, 19-12, at the 12:40 mark, but 麻豆视频 answered. The 麻豆视频 Lady Bulldogs led by as many as 19 points, 47-28, in the first half. However, Cumberland closed out the half with a 15-7 run to cut the 麻豆视频 lead down to 11 points, 54-43, at the half.

In the second half, a three-pointer from Cumberland鈥檚 Ashley Matthews cut 麻豆视频鈥檚 lead down to eight points. But two free throws by Kaitlin Dudley, and 麻豆视频 was back up by double-digits. The 麻豆视频 Lady Bulldogs used 62-percent shooting in the second half to cruise to a victory. 麻豆视频鈥檚 largest lead of the game at 33 points came 104-71 with 2:30 left to play. 麻豆视频 walked away with the 106-78 final.

For the first time this season, freshman forward Zeinab Chan led 麻豆视频 in scoring. Her 21 points, including 13 in the first half led all scorers. Merideth Jacobs added 20 points, including six three pointers. Jessica Graves added 17 points, including 4-of-4 from behind the arc. Josphine Owino posted 14 points while Lindsey Flynn added 10 points. 麻豆视频 received 48 points on this night from their bench players. 麻豆视频 shot 60-percent from the field, including 56-percent (15-27) from behind the arc. The Lady Bulldogs also sank 15-of-20 free throws for 75-percent.

Cumberland was led by Alison West with 18 points. Renae Williams added 16 points, Chaquaila Gaten scored 15 points, and Ashley Matthews posted 10 points. Cumberland shot 38-percent from the field, 42-percent (10-24) from three-point range, and 77-percent (10-13) from the free-throw line.

Up next for 麻豆视频 will be a semifinal game versus Trevecca Nazarene on Friday, March 7 at 麻豆视频. The game will start at 7:00 pm.

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