LEBANON, Tenn. -- The 21st-ranked University of Pikeville women's basketball team went cold from the field in the second half as Cumberland turned a 14-point first-half deficit into a 62-59 win on Thursday in Dallas Floyd Gymnasium.
Aundrea Matchen led the Bears (21-6, 7-6 MSC) with 20 points and 11 rebounds and Devin Conley chipped in with 14 and 3, but it wasn't enough against a Phoenix (16-10, 5-8 MSC) team that played more physical to find a way to win.
Using a size advantage to feed the ball into the paint, Cumberland muscled its way to 30-9 advantage in free-throw attempts. The Bulldogs used that gap to outscore UPIKE 21-6 from the stripe.
Both teams struggled with turnovers and tied with 33 rebounds each, but the free points ultimately made the difference.
Nicole Bowers matched the game high with 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Phoenix, while Bre Neal joined her in double figures with 14 points. The 6-2 and 6-0 combo combined to grab 19 of Cumberlands' 37 rebounds.
After going over three minutes without scoring, UPIKE got a three from Taylor McGlade to go up 55-54 with 2:33 to play. But Chelsey Hall hit two free throws on the next possession to give the Phoenix a lead that they wouldn't lose again.
The Bears cut the deficit to one twice in the final minute, but Bowers came through from the stripe both times, hitting 3 of 4 shots.
UPIKE did get a good chance at a tie with 22 seconds left when Matchen's layup rolled out, followed by Devin Conley missing a put back. Kandice Porter kept the possession alive with a jump ball, but the Bears turned the ball over on the inbounds play to end the threat.
It was a game the Bears had dominated in the first half, leading by as many as 14 points at 31-17. UPIKE was still on top by nine with 4:46 left in the third quarter before Cumberland used an 11-1 run to close the period and take its first lead since being up 7-6 at 46-45.
But UPIKE went from shooting nearly 50 percent in the first half to a 38-percent showing in the second. Conversely, the Phoenix went from 28 to 42 to finish off the comeback.
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