LEBANON, Tenn. --No. 3 Campbellsville uses a big second half to get past the Phoenix 67-55 on Thursday night at the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena. 

Cumberland (14-6, 0-4 MSC)  finished the night shooting 34.0 percent from the field (18-of-53) and 26.7 percent from three-point range (4-of-15), but excelled at the free throw line at 93.8 percent (15-of-16). Cumberland totaled 13 assists and forced 26 turnovers, converting those into 21 points. Defensively, the Phoenix recorded 15 steals and limited Campbellsville's transition opportunities, though struggles in the third and fourth quarters proved costly.

Emaleigh Tarpley led the Phoenix with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and six steals, going 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Ty Buckley added 15 points, knocking down three triples, while Faith Colston contributed nine points and four steals. Sydney Schwallie finished with four points and four assists, and Riley Long chipped in six points off the bench.

Campbellsville (17-3, 2-2 MSC) shot an efficient 53.2 percent from the floor (25-of-47) and knocked down 42.1 percent from three-point range (8-of-19) to control the game offensively. The Tigers went 9-of-20 from the free throw line and finished with a slim 30-29 rebounding edge, while also dishing out 17 assists. Campbellsville forced 26 turnovers and turned them into 26 points, while its defense recorded 18 steals and nine blocks. The Tigers outscored Cumberland 30-18 in the paint and held the lead for 90 percent of the contest, building a largest advantage of 23 points late in the fourth quarter.

Lainey Johnson led the Tigers with 16 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Whitney Hay added 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while Hallie Allen and Dea Bradley each chipped in 11 points. Tyra Flowers filled the stat sheet with seven points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals.

Campbellsville started the game with a 6-0 run then the Phoenix answered right back with a 8-2 run of their own. Buckley drilled two threes to tie the game at 8-8. Tied at 12-12, Long scored a two in the paint as well as Colston with four of her own before Campbellsville closed the first quarter with a 5-0 run for a 17-14 lead after the first. 

The Tigers continued with the hot hand starting the second quarter scoring the first five points to push the run out to a 10-0 run. Both sides went on a four minute long scoring drought before Tarpley finally got a two to go to stop the run. After that, Campbellsville went on another five point spurt before the Phoenix responded with a two from Varpness and three from Buckley. Allen scored the last basket of the half for a 31-25 Tigers lead at the break.

Buckley led the team in points at the break with 11 shooting 4-6 from the court and 3-4 from beyond the arc. Long,  Tarpley, and Colston all added four points in the half. 

Campbellsville outscored Cumberland 21-13 in the third quarter to create separation. The Tigers went on a 12-4 run over the first five minutes of the quarter. Colston drilled a three to spark a 7-0 spurt for Cumberland to get back in the game, but Campbellsville closed the quarter with a 9-0 run. The Tigers went to the line 14 times after not shooting a free throw in the first half.

The Tigers again came out in the fourth with a big 10-2 run to start the quarter and reach their largest lead of the game at 65-42. Cumberland would close the game on a 15-5 run for the final score of 67-53.

Cumberland was originally slated to play on the road at Freed-Hardeman on Saturday, however, the game has been canceled. Cumberland will take on Lindsey Wilson for the second time on January 31 at the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena for their next game.