Cowan, Davis lead CU women to win at Wise

WISE, Va. – Cumberland used a 16-6 run near the end of the game to pull away, as Yalonda Davis scored 16 points and Casie Cowan netted 15 in a 62-52 victory over UVA-Wise on Thursday night here at the David J. Prior Convocation Center.

The Bulldogs (15-1, 6-1 Mid-South) struggled mightily in the second half, making just 4-of-17 shots to start the period. CU clung to a 46-43 advantage with 3:13 remaining before a pair of free throws by Briannica Tye and then a breakaway layup plus the foul shot from Davis gave the visitors some breathing room.

Cumberland hit 10-of-13 free throws in the final two minutes, including six straight by Cowan in the last 51.4 seconds, to pull away for the win. CU was 19-fo-24 at the charity stripe for the game, an important part of the game, as UVA-Wise made just 17-for-31 at the foul line, 6-of-15 in the first half.

Tye scored all 11 of her points in the second half for the Bulldogs, including six consecutive points over a three-minute stretch midway through the half. Cumberland played without starters Jessica Pace (injury) and Josette Campbell (sickness) in the contest, a duo that averages almost 23 points and 13 rebounds per outing.

Chelsea Cluesman led the Cavaliers (5-11, 2-5) with 22 points and nine rebounds, including 16 points in the second half. Charlotte Reasor added 13 points and nine boards as well, but Wise was just 3-for-20 from 3-point range, hitting two of those in the final minute of the game.

Both teams started very slowly and the Bulldogs led 8-3 at the first media timeout at 11:54 of the first half, but CU awakened thereafter, including a 10-0 run that forced a timeout by the Cavaliers. TaCouya Allen hit a 3-pointer, Davis followed with a jumper before a trifecta from Tasia Blue and then a layup by Davis, putting the visitors ahead, 20-7, with 8:02 left in the period.

The Bulldogs fell into another lull for about three-and-a-half minutes, but a nice catch and kiss off the glass by Londoe Elie ignited a mini-spurt to end the period, with Davis nailing a long-range 3-pointer as the shot clock expired and driving for a layup before Allen drained a trifecta just as the first half clock expired for a 30-14 advantage at intermission.

Davis netted 11 points for the Bulldogs in the half and Allen added six. Cluesman posted six for Wise, all in the final 3:27, after picking up two quick fouls to start the game.

Cumberland will continue its four-game road swing Saturday at Pikeville at 1 p.m. Central time. The Bulldogs will play next week at Lindsey Wilson and Campbellsville before returning home Jan. 24 for a rematch with Pikeville.

Wise men overcome Cumberland in double overtime

WISE, Va. —  Deon Boyce scored 22 points and grabbed 24 rebounds as Virginia-Wise's men came from behind to post its fourth consecutive victory, 81-80 over Cumberland in double overtime at the Prior Center on Thursday.

The Cavaliers (8-5, 3-4 MSC) did not gain the lead until the second overtime as the Bulldogs (6-9, 2-5 MSC) shot in excess of 60 percent from the field for the majority of the contest.

Cumberland jumped out to a 36-27 lead at intermission as the visitors connected on four three-point baskets en route to a 61.5 percent shooting performance in the opening half.  Creshaun Holt paced the Bulldogs by scoring 15 of his game-high 24 points in the half. 

UVa-Wise cranked up the defensive intensity in the second half by forcing 15 Cumberland turnovers as the Cavs outscored the Bulldogs 41-32.  Javon Moore scored 15 points in the half as he connected on six of 12 shots from the field en route to tying Holt for game-high scoring honors. 

With UVa-Wise trailing by two with 1:04 to play, Moore was fouled on a drive to the hoop.  The sophomore connected on both free throw attempts to knot the game at 66.  Two possessions later, Brian Blackmon banked a shot in from inside the paint to give Cumberland the lead with 12 seconds to play.  Moore would drive to the lane only to have his shot blocked, a scramble would ensue that ended up with James Turner connecting on a tip in with less than second to play.  A last second heave by the Bulldogs came up no-good to send the contest to overtime.

Cumberland jumped out to a four-point lead early in the overtime period only to see UVa-Wise once again battle back.   Trailing by two with fewer than five seconds to play Matt Day found Boyce alone under the basket for a layup to tie the game and force a second overtime possession with the game tied at 76.

The game's second overtime was nip and tuck throughout ending with UVa-Wise having the ball and a chance to win for the first time.  The Cavs sent point guard Smith down the left baseline only to see the junior's floater come up no-good.  However, a foul was spotted on the Bulldogs' Cameron Prather; the foul sent Smith to the line for two shots with 0.5 seconds to play.  Smith missed the first free throw but, he made the second to give the Cavs the lead.  Cumberland's half court shot at the buzzer was wide giving UVa-Wise the 81-80 victory.

Cumberland will travel up the road to Pikeville, Ky., for a 3 p.m. CST game Saturday.