Box Score LEBANON, Tenn. - Trevecca (9-15, 5-7 TranSouth) fell to the Cumberland University Bulldogs (12-12, 7-5) 65-48 on Saturday at the Dallas Floyd Recreation Center. The Bulldog win is their first over Trevecca since the 2005 season, a streak of 15 straight wins for the Trojans.
Trevecca still leads the all-time series 22-11. It is the first time that a Gary Van Atta coached TNU squad has lost to Cumberland. The last CU win was a 61-54 overtime win on January 13, 2005. Including today's CU win, TNU has won 21 of the last 23 meetings.
Cumberland held a six-point lead on two different occasions in the first half. The second was a 15-9 lead with 8:09 remaining in the half. Trevecca used a 6-0 run to tie the game at 15, but the Bulldogs pulled ahead with a 5-0 run for a 20-15 advantage at the 6:03 mark.
Kayla Biles scored a basket and was fouled. After Biles hit her free throw the Trojans rebounded a missed CU field goal and
Anissa Ragland scored. Biles scored again on the next possession and the Trojans had their first lead (22-20) since scoring the first field goal of the game. Unfortunately the Bulldogs rallied outscoring the Trojans 10-5 to the break for a 30-27 halftime lead.
Trevecca coach Gary Van Atta commented, "We struggled offensively to start each half and that cost us the game as much as anything. We did a good job defensively most of the game."
"We handled their pressure most of the game, but their offensive effort over the last five minutes of the first and to start the second half gave them what they needed to win. I was proud of our effort when we cut the lead to nine, but the deficit proved to be too much."
The Bulldogs scored the first 14 points of the second half for a 17-point (44-27) lead. The Bulldogs led by 18 (48-30) with 11:48 when the Trojans began to cut into the CU lead. A Trevecca 13-4 run cut the Cumberland lead to nine (52-43) with 4:42 to go.
Anna Mitchell scored six and Ragland added four during the run. Cumberland stiffened their defense and the Trojans eventually fell 65-48.
Trevecca struggled shooting to start each half. Trevecca shot 3-of-16 to start the first half and were 2-for-16 to start the second. Trevecca was 10-for-22 the rest of the game. The Trojans hit just 1-of-11 from beyond the three-point arch. For the game Trevecca was 15-54 (28%) from the field and hit 71% (17-24) from the foul line. Only
Kayla Biles (12) and
Anissa Ragland (12) scored in double figures for Trevecca.
Rachel Raby led TNU with nine rebounds. Ragland and Biles added six rebounds apiece. Ragland had a team-high four blocks and Biles had a team-high four steals.
Simone Ryan led Cumberland with 15 points and 10 rebounds and the Bulldogs won the rebounding battle 40-31.
Trevecca will host No. 25 Lyon College (18-8, 7-5) on Monday at 6 p.m. Trevecca will welcome back the 2001-2002 women's basketball team. The Adoption Sponsorship will feature Alan and Jamie Clark of Brentwood Nazarene.
