Undefeated Cumberland University beat Tennessee Wesleyan 68-57 and host Union College topped Tennessee Temple 70-61 in a women's basketball tournament Friday night at Barbourville, Ky.
Cumberland, ranked No. 7 in NAIA Division I, got 16 points from Casie Cowan and 15 from Briannica Tye in rising to 12-0. Jessica Pace had 10 points with nine rebounds in the win, and Yalonda Davis had four assists and matched two teammates with three steals.
Michelle Davis led TWC (4-5), which was 17th in the NAIA Division II preseason poll, with three 3-point baskets and 11 points. Heather Gibson was credited with six assists, and Cody Houck made four steals. A Bailey Lyness shot pulled the Athens team within six points with a minute to play, but Tye made a pair of free throws and Cowan and TaCouya Allen turned steals into baskets in the closing seconds for CU.
Temple, the only team in the tournament not nicknamed Bulldogs, led 53-51 with 9:48 to play against Union, but the hosts scored 19 of the next 24 points. Lindsay Waters had 29 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocked shots in a monster game for Union (9-2), supported by 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals from Haley Perkins.
For the Lady Crusaders (3-9), LaQuinta Gallishaw scored 16 points and Amber Charles had 13 plus seven rebounds, six steals and five assists. Amanda Rector contributed 12 points, and Alexis McGhee had a team-high nine rebounds. Temple was hurt by 29 turnovers, but Union committed 25.