CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.- No. 1 Campbellsville proved to be too much for Cumberland in the 86-58 loss for CU at the Powell Athletic Center.
Cumberland (5-8, 0-3 MSC) opened up the game very strong keeping up with the number one team in the country, but Campbellsville took over in spurts and that was the big difference in this game. The Phoenix shot 48% from the field and 36% from three point land, but Campbellsville's pressure forced 23 turnovers. The Tigers capitalized on Phoenix errors with 31 points as well as 31 points off the bench.
Ashlyn Pittman finished with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. Mackenzie Trouten finished with 10 points as the two Phoenix players with double-digits. Gracie Johnson started the game off hot with five points in the first quarter, unfortunately she ended with five points. Kerrice Watson and Britany Miller each picked up six points to round out the starters.
Campbellsville (16-0, 2-0 MSC) started off the game a bit slow, but heated up very quickly shooting 51% from the field and 58% from three. Lexy Lake went for a game-high 29 points as she hit nine three pointers. Lake opened up the game with a three and continued to let them fly all game long for the Tigers. Madison Faulkner scored 17 points, she had 15 with eight minutes left in the first half.
Johnson matches Lexy Lake’s three on the opening possession for both teams and the Phoenix passed it around the horn before finding Miller under the basket for a quick lead. Johnson came up with a steal at half court and Trouten capitalized going up by four in the opening two minutes. Trouten followed with a tough hook shot with Campbellsville’s Caitlin Hall in her face as the shot clock expired CU leads 9-5 with 5:38 left in the first.
Campbellsville registered four free throws and a three pointer by Hall to take their first lead 12-11, but it did not last long as Miller gathered in an offensive board and the put back. Rogers buried a three from the left corner in the back and forth opening quarter. Madison Faulkner converted an and one for the Tigers, at the end of the first 18-14 Campbellsville.
Campbellsville started the second with seven quick points from Madison Faulkner down low in the first two minutes of the second. Gregory came up with a fast break steal and layup and Lexi Lake buried her second three of the game for a 12-0 run to open the second. Morgan found Thibeault down low for Cumberland’s first points of the second, but just seconds later Lake hit another three from the opposite wing, 33-16 Tigers 6:04 left in the half.
Campbellsville came up with a steal on the full-court press and an easy bucket, but the press cost the Tigers points just after when the Phoenix worked to Trouten wide open under the basket. Watson drilled a three to chip away at the Tigers lead.
Lake continued her hot shooting for Campbellsville hitting two more threes, one at the buzzer. Pittman converted an and one. Tigers lead at intermission 48-26.
Lake once again drills a three from way beyond the three point line. Trouten earned a trip to the free throw line for her eighth and ninth points of the day. Miller once again with the offensive rebound and the putback to cut it to a 51-30 score.
Lake again from deep in the right corner, but this time Watson answers with a bank shot three. Cumberland came up with a loose ball and Pittman was able to finish after two offensive rebounds. Pittman picked up a steal and beat everyone down the court for an easy layup. Moments later, Miller stuffed a shot in the paint, but it wound up in the hands of Lake at the free-throw line for two point jumper, Tigers up 65-37 with 1:52 to go in the third.
Burns let a 15 foot floater fly off the target, but corralled her own rebound and put it in for two points. Miller fouled Campellsville’s Sheppard on a fast break for two points, Sheppard missed the free throw, Cumberland trailed 69-39 going into the fourth.
Tigers opened the fourth the same way they did the third with a three this time from Hall. Chilcutt responded with a three for Cumberland from the left wing. Burns earned her way to the charity stripe and hit both attempts, but Campbellsville kept hitting threes this one from Harmeyer, Campbellsville up 75-45 with 6:40 left in the game.
Lexy Lake put up two more threes in the closing minutes, as well as Harmeyer. Morgan and Thibeault added points late, but it was too late for the Phoenix as Campbellsville wins 86-58.
The women will return home for their first game at the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena in 2020 versus No. 15 Lindsey Wilson.
