Women's Basketball 10/22/2024 1:51:00 PM

Women's Basketball Season Preview

LEBANON, Tenn. - - The Cumberland University Women's Basketball team is preparing for the 2024-2025 season with a fresh start under new head coach Mark Vaughn.

Cumberland finished last season with a 10-16 record, including a 3-9 mark in Mid-South Conference play. The Phoenix are eager to make strides with a mix of seasoned returners and exciting new talent, as Vaughn steps into a head coaching role for the first time at the college level.

Kayla Gordon returns as the focal point on the team, coming off a stellar season where she averaged 16.5 points per game on 45.6% shooting from the field. The senior guard earned First-Team All-Mid-South Conference honors and was named Mid-South Conference Player of the Week once last season. Gordon has shown she is a well-rounded player, contributing 4.0 rebounds per game and leading the team in steals with 45 over the course of the season. Her aggressive style of play, especially her ability to get to the free-throw line (73.2% on 153 attempts), makes her the centerpiece of the Phoenix's offense.

Alongside Gordon, Emaleigh Tarpley will continue to provide valuable minutes after averaging 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season. Tarpley was a key contributor off the bench, playing in 26 contests and shooting 40% from the field. Her ability to space the floor will continue to be highlighted as last season she hit a shot from range in double-digit contests.

Myajae Eubanks is another critical returner who started 25 games last season. Eubanks averaged 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She is a key defensive presence with 14 blocks, second on the team last season.

Faith Colston will continue to bring versatility to the lineup, building upon a season where her role only graduated as the season went on. Starting in 16 games last season, Colston averaged 3.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while only dropping below 20 minutes played a single time in the Phoenix's final 18 games. She also showed her range by hitting 34.6% of her three-point attempts. Colston will take the ball up the floor more this season and share some point duties along with Gordon.

Maddie Brillhart also returns after playing in 25 games last season, including two starts. Brillhart averaged 5.1 points per game while playing 17.2 minutes per contest. The sophomore is yet another great piece for Vaughn to work with as she can work in the post as well as stretch the floor with her great size and three-point shooting ability.

Cumberland also returns guard Mariyah Person for her second season with the Phoenix and forwards AC Whitehead and Jordan Green add more depth to the front court..

With these returning players leading the charge, Coach Vaughn will also have a number of talented newcomers joining the team: Ashley Malone, Jordan Harris, Ever Walker, Marley Hyde, Airyn Enoch, and Abby Williams.

Ashley Malone is a transfer from Nicholls State with stops at Tennessee State and Jacksonville University along the way. She played in 11 games last season scoring a season-high 16 points against SUNO. At TSU, she averaged 5.3 points per game and she played in 17 games with the Dolphins making five starts. At Pope John Paul II, Malone was a two-time All-State honoree.

Jordan Harris comes to Cumberland after playing the last two seasons at Chattanooga State. Harris played in 29 games last season for the Tigers scoring 11.3 points per game and averaging 6.3 rebounds per game.

Ever Walker will spend her second season with Coach Vaughn after playing for him at Bethel her freshman year. Walker spent last season at Christian Brothers and two years prior to that at Tennessee State. Last season, she played in 24 games with five starts for the Bucs. She averaged 5.3 points per game shooting 30% from three.

Cumberland added three freshmen to the roster in Hyde, Williams, and Enoch. Hyde was a 1,000 point scorer at White House High School as a tall guard. Williams earned All-District honors out of Todd County Central High School in Kentucky three times. She was also a 1,000 point scorer. Enoch comes to CU after earning All-District honors the last two seasons at Smith County High School.

The season kicks off on Thursday with a home game against Bryan College at Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena. The Phoenix will then hit the road for nearly a month before returning home for the Rosa Stokes Classic on December 6 and 7. Conference games will get going in the new year as CU travels to Bethel on January 9.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#23 Myajae Eubanks: F; 6' 1"; Junior

#2 Kayla Gordon: G; 5' 4"; Senior

#1 Mariyah Person: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#11 Faith Colston: G; 5' 6"; Freshman

#13 AC Whitehead: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#15 Emaleigh Tarpley: G/F; 5' 10"; Freshman

#32 Maddie Brillhart: F; 6' 1"; Freshman

#44 Jordan Green: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

#24 Airyn Enoch: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

#3 Ever Walker: G; 5' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#23 Myajae Eubanks
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F

#2 Kayla Gordon
: 5' 4"; Senior
: G

#1 Mariyah Person
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#11 Faith Colston
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: G

#13 AC Whitehead
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#15 Emaleigh Tarpley
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G/F

#32 Maddie Brillhart
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F

#44 Jordan Green
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F

#24 Airyn Enoch
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G

#3 Ever Walker
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G