NASHVILLE, Tenn--Cumberland Women's Basketball showed a lot of fight in an exhibition against Tennessee State, but the Tigers late run helped them knock off the Phoenix, 72-62.

The Phoenix put together a competitive showing but ultimately fell short. The team finished shooting 34.5% from the field on 20-of-58 attempts. From beyond the arc, they connected on 8-of-22 shots, hitting 36.4% of their threes, the most in a game this season. The team was strong at the free-throw line, converting 77.8% on 14-of-18 attempts. Cumberland pulled down 39 rebounds, but were outpaced on the boards by the Tigers that had 50. Despite these positives, turnovers were a setback, as the team committed 24 on the night, which translated to 24 points for Tennessee State. 

Maddie Brillhart led the team with a career-high 20 points, hitting 7-of-13 from the field and 4-of-10 from three-point range, adding three rebounds and a steal in her 30 minutes on the floor. Emaleigh Tarpley followed with 11 points, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line with most of her production coming in the fourth. Kayla Gordon contributed 10 points and led the team with five assists, adding five rebounds playing all 40-minutes. Mariyah Person also chipped in 10 points, going 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and pulling down six rebounds. The team collectively shot a strong 77.8% from the free-throw line, but turnovers proved costly as Cumberland committed 24 on the night.

Tennessee State played their first game of the season tonight and started sluggish, but stayed in the game all night before pulling away late. They shot 38.9% from the field on 28-of-72 attempts and hit 26.7% from three-point range, making 8-of-30 from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, they converted 57.1% on 8-of-14 attempts.

Somah Kamara led TSU in scoring with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding six rebounds. Saniah Parker contributed 16 points and hit four threes while grabbing six rebounds, and Erin Martin made a strong impact with a double-double, recording 10 points and 10 rebounds along with two blocks and three steals. XaiOnna Whitfield and Lyric Cole each finished in double figures with 10 points.

Tennessee State scored first to open up the game. Person hit a lay up for Cumberland's first basket after three minutes of play. Gordon followed with two free throws before Parker hit a jumper for 5-4 Tigers lead. Brillhart drilled her first triple of the game and added a second for 10-6 lead with four minutes left in the first. Person hit a three with 3:27 left for a 13-6 lead, but the Tigers held Cumberland scoreless the rest of the quarter, but CU managed to hold on to the lead up 13-11.

Tennessee State came out in the second on a quick 5-0 run to take the lead. Tarpley slowed teh run with her first basket of the game, but TSU was able to push it out to a four-point lead at 21-17 with 6:47 left in the half. 

Brillhart connected on two free throws and Person hit her second three-pointer of the game to get back within a point down 23-22. The Tigers' Erin Martin scored the next four points before a 6-0 run regained the lead for the Phoenix. Myajae Eubanks made a layup and then Gordon heated up with back-to-back buckets for the lead. Tied at 31-31, the Tigers scored the final four points of the half to lead 35-31 again holding CU scoreless the final two and a half minutes of the quarter. 

Cumberland started the second half by tying the game after four straight points. TennesseeState answered with a 5-0 run, but Brillhart made a two and then connected on her third three of the game to cut the score back to 42-40 with five minutes left in the third. 

The Tigers went on another 5-0 spurt to get up by seven. Brillhart and Gordon made the next two baskets, two minutes apart, to get the game back to one possession, but TSU scored the final four points of the quarter to go to the fourth up 51-44.

The fourth quarter started slow for TSU allowing Tarpley to drain a triple and knock down two free throws in the first three minutes of the fourth to get within. Kamara drained a three and Brillhart again answered to keep the Phoenix down by two. 

The Tigers went on a huge 18-2 run in a four minute span to pull away down the stretch. TSU hit four three-pointers in the span to pull away and get the win, 72-62.

Cumberland will be playing this weekend in a classic against IU Southeast and Huntington in Indiana.