LEBANON, Tenn.-- Kerrice Watson shot perfectly from the floor and tied for the game high in points, 16, but Cumberland failed to withstand the offensive onslaught and press defense of second-ranked Campbellsville today in Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena, losing 81-49.
The recent stretch of struggling to maintain possesion of the ball continued today for Cumberland (7-14, 1-9 MSC) as the team gave the ball away 27 times which No. 2 Campbellsville (23-1, 9-1 MSC) capitalized on for 36 points. The offensive bright spot on the day for the Phoenix was a very strong scoring performance from Watson. The Senior shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field on the day, including a superb 4-for-4 from behind the arc for 16 points.
Three Campbellsville players broke into double-digit scoring led by Savannah Gregory with 16. Madison Faulkner followed closely behind with 15 of her own, while Sammy Rogers brought 11 to the table.
Campbellsville and Cumberland each opened the game with five point runs as Pittman hit a three to tie it. Faith Lake scored on a layup and Pittman hit a three from the corner to take a one point lead, but it didn’t last long as Calbert answered with a three at the top of the key and Rogers followed that up with a three from the Lady Tigers.
The Phoenix continued to expose the zone early on as Watson found herself wide open in the corner for a three. Shyla Calbert went back down the court for a two pointer as Campbellsville led 16-11 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Tigers forced Cumberland into two 10 second violations and two turnovers in the back court to open the second quarter. The turnovers and the ball just rolling the Tigers way led to 15 unanswered points before Gracie Johnson was able to put the ball in for Cumberland, 31-13 Lady Tigers 4:35 left in the half.
Rogers hit a three from the top of the key, but Watson responded with a three from the right wing. Johnson added two free throws and picked up a loose ball and took it all the way for an easy two for Cumberland. Faith Lake added four free throws, a layup and a three for nine straight points for the Lady Tigers. Campbellsville forced three turnovers right before the half that led to five points, Cumberland trails 48-22 at half.
Caitlin Hall scored quick to start the third and Faulkner poked it out of Griffith’s hands in the after a defensive rebound and wound up with it for a 15 foot jumper. Faulkner again scored after a defensive stop and the Phoenix turned the ball over leading to five more points and an 11-0 point run for the Lady Tigers, 59-22 with 7:13 left in the third.
Faulkner fouled Watson on a three as the shot clock expired sending her to the line to put Cumberland on the board in the second half. Pittman made a tough contested layup in the line and added one at the line. Kerrice Watson hit a three from the right wing and hits a 18 foot jumper from the baseline, 66-32 Campsellville with 2:14 left.
Chilcutt got her first points of the game from deep and Watson hit a three after Cristin Hall made a nice pass down low to Carman for two. Miller scored right before the buzzer at the end of the quarter as Cumberland trails 68-40.
Gregory scored first in the fourth followed shortly by Faulkner who continued to have a big game as she scored down low for the Lady Tigers and added one point from the free throw line. Abby Morgan let a three fly from well beyond the three point line to get the first points of the quarter for Cumberland after five minutes of action and Lauren King followed shortly after with a three of her own and two free throws.
Cristin Hall buried a three in the final minutes of the game for the Lady Tigers and Trouten added one free throw as No. 2 Campbellsville wins 81-49
The Phoenix will have this Thursday off as the rest of the conference will be battling it out. Cumberland will travel to the University of the Cumberlands on February 8th at 1 p.m. central time.
