JACKSON, Tenn. - 2/1/2007 - The seventh ranked Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ University Lady Bulldogs led from start to finish as they defeated No. 10 Cumberland University (Tenn.) on Thursday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium, 82-69. This 13-point win for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ avenges an earlier 13-point loss at Cumberland back in the first conference game of the year. With their eighth straight win, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ improved to 17-4 overall and 8-2 in the TranSouth to remain in a tie for first place. Cumberland drops from a first place tie with the loss to 7-3 in the conference and 17-4 overall.
This game for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ marked the return of 2006 NAIA All-American and two-time national tournament All-Tournament player, Ena Daniels. Daniels has been saving her final semester of eligibility for the end of the season.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ scored first on a basket by Latorya Fuller and never trailed in the game. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ jumped out to a 17-point advantage, 25-8, in the first nine minutes of play. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ led by as many at 18 points in the first half with just under five minutes to play. Cumberland rallied back to cut Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s lead to 10 points at 36-26 before settling for an 11-point, 40-29 halftime deficit.
The second half saw Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ quickly take the lead up to 16 points, 49-33, on a three pointer by Crystal Eason at the 16:34 mark. However, Cumberland proved their ranking as they mounted a comeback that caused concern for the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ faithful. Over the next, 12 minutes of play, Cumberland cut Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s lead to 10 points on five separate occasions, but couldn’t get any closer. That is, until a three pointer by Isabelli Cunico at the 3:47 mark cut Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s lead 68-61. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ quickly answered with two free throws from Kaitlin Dudley. Cumberland would get to within seven points three more times, with the last coming with 47 seconds left, 74-67. But the free throw hero of the 2005 national title game for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, Daniels, sank her only two free throw attempts of the night to help seal the win.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ finished the game shooting 40-percent from the field, including 40-percent (6-15) from behind the arc. Cumberland managed 41-percent shooting from the field and 33-percent (7-21) from behind the arc.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ was led by Josephine Owino with a game-high 19 points, while Kaitlin Dudley and Natanya Smith added 11 points each. Daniels, in her first game back, made a big impact with 10 points, seven assists, and two rebounds.
Cumberland was led by Kiana Robinson with 16 points. Renae Williams and Isabelli Cunico added 11 points apiece. Up next for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ will be another battle with a top-10 team as they host No. 9 Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) on Saturday, February 3 at 2:00 pm. Trevecca Nazarene defeated Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ in Nashville earlier this season, 69-63. All of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s four losses have come to NAIA top-10 teams (vs. No. 1 Vanguard 71-65, at No. 3 St. Xavier 89-88, at No. 10 Cumberland 79-66, at No. 9 Trevecca Nazarene 69-63).
#DOGS#
| Steven Aldridge Phone: (731) 661-5027 |
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