Williamsburg, Ky.-- Cumberland women's basketball fell in a 73-70 battle to the Midway Eagles on night one of their two-day stay in Williamsburg. The Phoenix overcame an early disadvantage to make for an intense battle that came down to the wire. 

Lindsey Freeman continued to shine with her second double-double of the season, leading the Phoenix with 12 points and 11 boards. Kayla Gordon and Alyssa Goehring put up 11 points each followed closely by JC Swafford with ten.

Collectively, the Phoenix shot 41.4% from the field, surpassing Midway's 37.9%. Cumberland secured a rebounding advantage, outboarding their opponents 38-32 but were unable to pull off the win.

Despite the Phoenix finding their rhythm and hitting crucial shots in the latter part of the first quarter, the Eagles fiercely contested for possessions, forcing six turnovers. 

Facing a deficit of 11 points, Cumberland ignited the second quarter with an impressive eight point run. At the 5:13 mark, Freeman capitalized on Breon Oldham's steal, driving in a layup and securing Cumberland's first lead of the game. Both teams intensified their scoring efforts in the final two minutes, resulting in a competitive conclusion.

Alyssa Goerhing and Maddie Brillhardt showcased their prowess off the bench, each contributing seven points to lead the team after two. Cumberland trailed by three at the break despite leading the offensive efforts with 46.7% accuracy from the field and three more three-pointers than the Eagles.

The teams vied for the lead after the break with neither side commanding more than a two-possession advantage throughout the third quarter. The Phoenix earned 18 points by the quarter's end as three shooters were in double-figure scoring, helping them to a 56-54 lead.

The first five minutes of the fourth quarter unfolded quietly in terms of scoring as both teams struggled to convert field goal attempts. The Eagles managed to inch ahead by one point, courtesy of a successful free throw and a well-executed layup. 

Free throw opportunities favored the Eagles, while the Phoenix missed valuable points as they struggled to convert on theirs early. In the closing two minutes, CU staged counterattacks, with Gordon reversing Cumberland's misfortune from the free-throw line and MJ Eubanks making tightly contested layups.

In the game's final 30 seconds, with a tied score of 70-70, the Eagles executed a crucial layup and secured a block on Cumberland's subsequent possession to establish a lead. Faced with a three-point deficit, Gordon attempted a last-second three-pointer in the closing moments, but the Phoenix couldn't extend the game into overtime.

Cumberland will have a quick turnaround as they look ahead to tomorrow's match against Campbellsville-Harrodsburg. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 PM EST tip-off.