LEBANON, Tenn.--The Phoenix and Running Eagles fought back and forth in a tightly contested, high scoring affair, but Kerrice Watson's career-high matching 24 points and Britany Miller's double-double as well as clutch play down the stretch was just enough to grab a conference victory, 94-90, today in Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena.
Cumberland (7-12, 1-7 MSC) secured its first conference victory of the season despite turning the ball over to Life (8-11, 1-7 MSC) a shocking 33 times. The Phoenix stood at the charity stripe 41 times over the course of the game converting on 33 of them to provide the edge to take the win.
Unsurprisingly, in a game where Cumberland posted over 90 points multiple players broke into double-digit scoring with two of those even breaking past 20 points scored. Watson led all players with her 24 which included a crisp 10-11 mark from the free throw line. Katherine Griffith scored the second most points with 20, narrowly missing out on a double-double with nine rebounds. Her running mate down low, Miller, completed the double-double with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Gracie Johnson scored 10 with most of her work coming from the free throw line.
Five Running Eagle players scored 10+, Sydni Tears leading the way with 19. Maeisha Teasley earned a rarely seen double-double, coming via points (18) and steals (10). The rest of the Life high scorers were: Cheyenne Daphney (13), Kiana Glenn (13), and Tierra Lindsey (12).
Tierra Tullis and Teasley scored first for the Running Eagles. Cumberland found Griffith down low where she put on a strong post move for two points. Cumberland forced a turnover and Kerrice Watson buried a three from the right corner and then got fouled while throwing up an acrobatic shot. She converted the foul shot and the drilled another three in transition. Phoenix up 11-6 with 6:27 left in the first.
Life forced Cumberland into 11 turnovers in the first quarter and got up on the Phoenix towards the middle of the quarter with six points from Daphney and a three by Tullis. Ashlyn Pittman hit a three at the end of the first, but Life maintained a 22-18 lead.
Abby Morgan hit a step back three as the shot clock expired on CU’s opening possession of the second and Burns followed with a three from the left wing. Miller hit two free throws to tie the game, 26-26.
Life’s Daphney scored with a put back down low and Tears hit two free throws. Devon Burns hit two free throws and Morgan hit a floater from 10-feet out for a quick four point swing. The Running Eagles turned that right around with four points off of Phoenix turnovers, Life led 37-30 with 3:51 left in the half.
The Phoenix regained the lead an 10-4 run at the end of the half. Griffith scored down low, Miller hit both of her free throws, Johnson hit a floater in the middle of the lane and Watson converted two frees and Griffith put back a CU miss. Life stole a pass in the back court and hit a layup right before the time expired, Life led 41-40 at half.
Life scored off a turnover and a fastbreak and Miller hit a two-pointer from 15 feet away and Miller hit two free throws to knot the game again at 44-44.
Tears and Griffith traded layups down low and Johnson drew a foul after she stole it near halfcourt for one point at the line. Miller and Trouten each hit two layups to go up 51-48 with 5:41.
Trouten drilled a three for her points of the game and Johnson layed it up to push out the next lead. Griffith scored down low on another strong post move. Teasley again created a turnover and finished on the other end with an and one. Trouten put a put back and Watson and Miller both finished in the paint, Cumberland led 64-54 with 1:30 left in third.
Kiana Glenn converted a four point play to cut the deficit to 64-58 going into the fourth.
Life made a free throw and scored in the paint before Watson hit six-of-six free throws after a Life technical foul fouling Daphney out of the game. Teasley forced another turnover and a fast break points, but Pittman buried a three from the right corner just after, Phoenix led 73-67 with 6:17 to go.
Life came alive after the technical and went on a 5-0 run to cut it a one point CU lead, but Watson made a nice move on a drive to the paint for a lay up. Trouten dished a beautiful touch pass over Life’s defenders to Griffith down low for a two points. Tears stole a Cumberland pass and took it all the way for a lay up, CU led 77-76 with 1:55 left.
Tears hit a two-pointer to take the lead, but the Running Eagles fouled Griffith to send her to the lin. Griffith hit both her free throws to regain the lead. Life then sent Johnson to the line and she hit one of two. Tierra Lindsey hit a layup to tie the game at 80-80 with 33 seconds left.
Cumberland took a timeout and Trouten was fouled on a drive sending her to the line for a two point lead with 28 seconds. Life took a timeout and advanced the ball, on the inbound they found Lindsey wide open down low, but Trouten was able to get to her and foul her sending her to the line. Lindsey hit both her free throws, 82-82 with 26 seconds.
Griffith was fouled sending her to the line for two free throws. She hit both of them with 13 seconds to play, but Kiana Glenn hit nothing but net from 20 feet to send it into overtime.
Life jumped out early in overtime, but CU answered with two points by Miller and Griffith before Griffith fouled out after a 20 point performance. Johnson came down with a big defensive rebound and was fouled sending her to the line for two points and a three point lead. Tears hit a layup and the Running Eagles fouled Johnson again for two points with 16 seconds left. The Phoenix stopped Life, sending Trouten to the line for one point, 94-90 Cumberland wins.
The Phoenix will be on the road for their next game, traveling to No.12 Lindsey Wilson next Thursday night.
