NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Life U 56, Cumberland (Tenn.), 66
Records: Life U, 8-5; Cumberland (Tenn.), 11-2
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University women's basketball team fell at home Saturday afternoon, dropping a non-conference contest to the Phoenix of Cumberland University (Tenn.), 66-56.
Both teams opened the game trading buckets back and forth with neither finding an early edge over the other. A layup from senior Kenya Robinson at the 1:38 mark gave Life U its largest lead of the period, 14-8. Again, both teams traded scores until a mid-range jumper from senior Madison Carey at the buzzer gave the Running Eagles an 18-12 lead heading into the second period.
At the start of the second period, neither team was able to find the bottom of the net. It was not until a layup from Robinson at the 5:58 mark, where points were finally scored in the second period. Both the Phoenix and the Running Eagles traded buckets for the rest of the period as Life U took a one-point advantage (30-29) into the half time break. Robinson led the scoring attack in the first half for Life U while Myori Pruitt and Robinson led the Running Eagles with two assists each.
Out of the half time break, neither team was able to pull away as stifling defense played a critical part in this match up. After a two-point jumper from Aniyah Offutt at the 4:52 mark gave Life U a 40-36 lead, the Phoenix opened the flood gates ending the quarter on a 13-6 run to take a 49-46 lead into the final period.
During the final period Cumberland did not look back, holding the Running Eagle to 3-17 shooting from the field and five turnovers, while also outscoring them 17-10 to come out with a 66-56 road victory. Life U had two players in double figures, Robinson and Offutt, as those two also led the team in rebounding.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-- Points in the Paint: Life - 28, Cumberland (Tenn.) - 36
-- Rebounds: Life – 31, Cumberland (Tenn.) - 37
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
-- Kenya Robinson: 12 points, 9 rebounds
-- Aniyah Offutt: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
-- Emily Perez: 8 points, 4 rebounds
UP NEXT:
-- Life U is back at home on Tuesday, December 16, for a non-conference match up against Spartanburg Methodist College at 5:30 PM.
