Eagles come up short against Cumberlands

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – For the third straight game the Eagles faced a Top 20 team from NAIA Division I, and for the third straight time Asbury was close early but wound up losing 78-36 to No. 12 University of the Cumberlands.

The Eagles would take an early 2-0 lead on the Patriots as Laura Carroll made the first basket of the game, but that would be the only lead Asbury would hold on this night.  Asbury closed the gap to 12-11 as Carroll again made a basket, she would be the only Eagle in double figures with 13 points.  After that the Patriots went on a tear, a 21-2 run before the Eagles could make another field goal and a 33-12 run to close the half.

Asbury (0-3) was never able to bring the lead under 20 points in the second half as they shot only 21% from the floor after intermission.  The Eagles shot 28% for the game while the Patriots were 46%.  Free throws hurt Asbury as well as they made only half of their 20 attempts. 

Cumberlands would dominate the rebounding battle, bringing down 40 compared to only 25 for the Eagles.  Brislyn Sizemore led Asbury with five rebounds off the bench.  After averaging nearly a double-double for the first two games Lakin Griffith struggled to get on track on Monday, shooting one-for-six from the floor for two points and only one rebound. 

The Eagles will head to Cullowhee, N.C. to battle Western Carolina University, an NCAA Div. I school, in an exhibition on Friday night.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.