JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/3/2010 - The No. 1 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ (Tenn.) University women’s basketball team began the defense of the TranSouth Tournament title with a 91-61 victory over Cumberland (Tenn.) University on Wednesday. Top seeded Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ improved to 30-1 overall, while #8 seed Cumberland ends their season at 9-18.
The win pushed Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s overall win streak to 23 games and their home court winning streak to 59 games.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ opened the game with a 9-0 run capped off by a three pointer from Kaitlin Dudley. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ stretched their early lead to 15-2. However, Cumberland rallied, cutting the deficit to just five points at 15-10 with 11:56 left in the half. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ then started to put the game away with an 11-0 run to go up by 16 points at the 9:16 mark of the first half. By the end of the half, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ had extended their lead to 19, 46-27.
In the second half, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ quickly extended the lead to 26 points, 60-34 over the first three minutes of play. Cumberland got as close as 18 points, 60-42, with an 8-0 run. However it was Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ pulling away for the 30 point win, 91-61.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ was led by Dudley, the 2010 TranSouth Player of the Year, with a game-high 19 points. Dudley is now just 67 points shy of second place on Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s all-time scoring list and 100 points shy of first place. Jessica Graves added 16 points including 4-of-5 from long range. Lavanda Ross scored 12 points, while Kayla Hudson and Sara Chan added 11 points each. Kayla Bryant sank 3-of-6 three pointers for her nine points. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ shot 51 percent from the field, 48 percent (12-25) from behind the arc and 71 percent (15-21) from the free-throw line.
Cumberland was led by 2010 TranSouth Newcomer of the year, Allysia Bailey with 16 points. Ashley Whitmore and Tamara Gonzalez added 13 and 10 points respectively. Cumberland shot 42 percent from the field, 30 percent (3-10) from behind the arc and 67 percent (6-9) from the free-throw line.
Up next for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ will be a semifinal match up at home versus #4 seeded Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
#UNION#
| Steven Aldridge Phone: (731) 661-5027 |
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