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Cumberland University

Braley
47
Toccoa Falls TOCCOA 2-7
86
Winner Cumberland (TN) CU 8-2
Toccoa Falls TOCCOA
2-7
47
Final
86
Cumberland (TN) CU
8-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Toccoa Falls TOCCOA 8 10 11 18 47
Cumberland (TN) CU 23 27 15 21 86

Next Game:

at Indiana University Southeast

11/18/2025 | 5:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Nov. 18 (Tue) / 5:00 PM
at Indiana University Southeast
History

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Phoenix Race Past Toccoa Falls for Big Win

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland women's basketball turned in a wire-to-wire performance Friday night, rolling past Toccoa Falls, 86-47, at the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena. The Phoenix used a dominant first half on both ends of the floor to race out to a 50-18 halftime lead and never looked back, improving to 7-2 on the season.

Cumberland shot 47.2 percent from the field (34-for-72), knocked down eight three-pointers, and controlled the paint with 50 points inside. The Phoenix overwhelmed the Eagles on the glass with a 46-31 rebounding advantage, including 15 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points. Cumberland's pressure defense forced 17 turnovers, turning them into 21 points the other way, while also tallying 10 steals and four blocks. The bench provided a huge spark as well, outscoring Toccoa Falls' reserves 49-11.

Braley Bushman paced the Phoenix with a game-high 17 points on an efficient 7-for-11 shooting night, adding three rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Emaleigh Tarpley posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, to go along with three assists and three steals. Julia Varpness added 10 points and two boards, while Maddie Brillhart and Ty Buckley each chipped in eight points. Brillhart added five rebounds, a block, and a steal, and Buckley knocked down two threes with three rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. 

Faith Colston finished with eight points and three rebounds, Riley Long scored six with three boards and a block, and Ever Walker contributed seven points, two rebounds, and an assist as 11 different Phoenix found the scoring column.

Toccoa Falls struggled to find its rhythm offensively, shooting 35.7 percent from the floor and going 0-for-17 from beyond the arc. The Eagles were led by Lydia Wolfe and Riley Berninger with 11 points apiece, as Wolfe also pulled down seven rebounds and Berninger added five boards. Brooklyn Yon finished with eight points, three rebounds, a block, and a steal, while Aimee Spurlock chipped in six points and two rebounds. 
Cumberland's defense kept Toccoa out of transition and out of rhythm on the perimeter, holding the visitors without a three-pointer and to just 28 points in the paint on the night.

Cumberland came out locked in from the opening tip, setting the tone with a dominant first quarter on both ends of the floor. The Phoenix shot 10-for-18 in the period, including three makes from beyond the arc, while holding Toccoa Falls to just 4-for-13 shooting and forcing five turnovers. CU controlled the paint with 14 points inside and added six fast-break points, building a 23-6 momentum surge before ending the quarter with an emphatic 15-point advantage after a late run. 

Cumberland carried that energy straight into the second quarter, outscoring Toccoa Falls 27-12 to stretch the halftime margin to 50-18. Braley Bushman fueled the offense with 10 points in the frame while also picking up three steals, helping CU turn defense into immediate offense. CU extended the lead to a comfortable margin at the end of the half. 

With a 32-point cushion, Cumberland maintained command coming out of the break, using a balanced attack to add 15 more points in the third quarter. CU continued to rotate fresh bodies, and the bench production stayed strong as players like Ever Walker and Maddie Brillhart contributed efficient minutes on both ends. Even with the tempo slowing, Cumberland led firmly at 30-plus throughout the period.

In the fourth quarter, Cumberland closed out the night with a 21-point final frame, finishing the game with an 86-47 victory. CU's reserves sealed the dominant effort, pushing the bench scoring total to 49 points. The Phoenix reached their largest lead at 44 points with just over five minutes remaining.

Cumberland will be on the road next Tuesday, November 18 at IU Southeast. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m. in New Albany, Ind. 
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Players Mentioned

Maddie Brillhart

#32 Maddie Brillhart

F
6' 1"
Junior
Faith Colston

#11 Faith Colston

G
5' 7"
Junior
Riley Long

#22 Riley Long

F
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Emaleigh Tarpley

#15 Emaleigh Tarpley

G/F
5' 11"
Junior
Ever Walker

#3 Ever Walker

G
5' 5"
Senior
Ty Buckley

#24 Ty Buckley

G
5' 6"
Senior
Braley Bushman

#1 Braley Bushman

F
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
Julia Varpness

#23 Julia Varpness

F
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Maddie Brillhart

#32 Maddie Brillhart

6' 1"
Junior
F
Faith Colston

#11 Faith Colston

5' 7"
Junior
G
Riley Long

#22 Riley Long

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Emaleigh Tarpley

#15 Emaleigh Tarpley

5' 11"
Junior
G/F
Ever Walker

#3 Ever Walker

5' 5"
Senior
G
Ty Buckley

#24 Ty Buckley

5' 6"
Senior
G
Braley Bushman

#1 Braley Bushman

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Julia Varpness

#23 Julia Varpness

6' 0"
Freshman
F