BREAKING NEWS: Late free throws end Cumberland season in NAIA semifinals

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Hollie German hit two free throws with three seconds to play, lifting Lee past Cumberland 43-41 in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship semifinals at the Frankfort Convention Center Monday night.

The loss ended Cumberland's best-ever season, record-wise, as a four-year school at 33-3, with each of the losses coming by two points [including one in overtime] to teams which made the 32-team.

Lee, from Cleveland, advanced to Tuesday's championship game with a 34-2 record and will face the winner of Monday's other semifinal between Freed-Hardeman and Westmont [Calif.].

Freed-Hardeman's presence in the NAIA's Fab 4 gave Tennessee three teams in the semifinals.

Cumberland, which swept the Mid-South Conference regular-season and tournament championships for the first time since 1999, was trying to reach the national final for the first time since losing to Lambuth in the 2007 title game in Jackson.

As a junior college, Cumberland also finished second in the 1983 nationals.