LEBANON, Tenn–Cumberland started slow in the first, but after that it was all Phoenix in the conference opener as CU went on to defeat Lindsey Wilson, 83-70.

Cumberland (4-1, 1-0 MSC) played relentless defense and did a great job getting into transition offense. The Phoenix made 31-of-58 (53.1%) of their shots and were nearly perfect from the line connecting on 18-of-19 free throws. CU dominated the glass out-rebounding the Blue-Raiders 40-20. 

Five Phoenix reached double figure points led by Lindsey Freeman with a team-high 15 points. Freeman went 5-0f-8 from the field and hit four free throws along with seven boards. Alaina Rongos finished with 14 with a game-high eight rebounds. Keara Sexton scored 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Abby Morgan scored 11 off the bench and Kayla Gordon added 10. 

Lindsey Wilson (4-2, 0-2 MSC) had a great start shooting the lights of the gym at 81.8% after their first 11 shots, but could not sustain that as the Phoenix dialed up pressure and played tough defense. The Blue Raiders were averaging 88 points per game coming into the matchup, but CU held them 18 points under their average.

Lindsey Wilson had three players in double figures led by Lucy Patterson with 14. Maleigha Oldham scored 11 points and Sydnie Hall added 10.

The Blue Raiders scored their first three trips down the floor with two tough two-pointers and a three from Hall for a 7-0 run in the first two minutes. Sexton broke up the run with two free throws, but Lindsey Wilson continued to shoot the fire out of it in the first quarter going 10-of-16 from the field and 3-of-4 from three to create a 23-12 lead for the Blue Raiders. 

Cumberland started the second quarter with an 8-0 run to get right back in the game as Sexton hit a two, Jones got 1-of-2 to go from the free throw line and Rongos buried a three from the top of the key to cut the lead to 23-21. 

The Blue Raiders held onto a short lead until 2:26 left when Swafford hit one from the line to tie it at 32-32. The Phoenix scores the final six points of the quarter to take a 38-32 lead into half. CU outscored Lindsey Wilson 26-9 in the quarter. 

Miller starts the third with an and-one conversion down low to give Cumberland their largest lead of the game at nine. The Blue Raiders after that went on a 6-0 run, but a three from the wing by Sexton pushed Cumberland back out by eight, 48-41. 

The Phoenix continued pushing the pace, extending the lead to 15 with 2:13 left in the quarter. The Phoenix would take a 12 point lead into the fourth leading 62-49. 

Cumberland pushed the lead out by as much as 18 in the fourth before defeating Lindsey Wilson 83-70. 

Cumberland will remain at home this Saturday as they take on No. 3 Campbellsville. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. central time.