WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (November 11, 2017) – The Warriors had a lead in the final moments of regulation and had a chance to tie it in a close overtime period, but in the end, the Webber International University women's basketball team fell to the University of the Cumberlands, 80-77, on Saturday.
After leading by as many as seven twice during the fourth quarter, Webber (1-3) took a 70-68 lead on a 2-pointer by
RayGene Garner with 1:50 left in regulation. Cumberlands (3-1) then turned the ball over on its next possession, and then after a missed shot by the Patriots two possessions later, Garner came up with a steal that gave Webber the ball back with a lead, and with only 47 seconds left.
The Warriors, however, were unable to get off a shot attempt as the Patriots got the ball back and saw Cheyenne Madden score with only 10 seconds left to tie it.
In the five-minute overtime period, Webber scored first as a free throw by
Ashley Perry, a 2-point score by
Paris Copeland and another free throw from Perry made it 74-70 Warriors with 3:25 to go. Cumberlands then re-took the lead, and a three-pointer by Alani Fisher made it 77-75 with 1:25 left.
Shayla McPhearson answered 16 seconds later with two free throws it tie the game yet again, but the Patriots would convert on three free throws down the stretch as Webber turned the ball over once and missed two jumpers in the final 30 seconds, leading to a missed three-pointer by McPhearson with zeroes on the clock.
Head Coach
Grady Morrell said, "I think our girls played hard for the last game of a long road trip. If we continue to improve, we'll make some noise later on in conference play."
Perry led both teams with a game-high 17 points, and also added 12 rebounds for the first double-double of her senior season. She was also an impressive 9-for-11 from the free throw line, and added two blocks and two steals.
Copeland with next with 16 points, and was followed by Garner with 15 and McPhearson with 12. Garner and McPhearson both finished with three steals, while Copeland and
Jakia Davis both added five rebounds.
After their last three games up north in Atlanta, Georgia, and in Kentucky, the Warriors will return to Florida but will remain on the road as they open up Sun Conference action at Southeastern University on Thursday, November 16, at 6 p.m.
