Lebanon, Tenn.-- Cumberland women’s basketball fights their way to an overtime victory over Bethel, 61-53.

It was a physical battle from start to finish that took extra minutes and an entire team effort to complete. Lindsey Freeman had a fantastic game for the Phoenix, leading all players with 18 points. Brittany Miller was one point away from a double-double, picking up an outstanding 15 rebounds, four blocks, and nine points. 

The Wildcats were led by Madison Hart with 13 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double in the effort.

Cumberland clawed their way back from an early deficit to go into the break with a two point advantage. Freeman was explosive from the jump, picking up 16 of CU’s 29 first-half points.

The Wildcats led by as much as five points in the first quarter, sinking three from outside the arc in the ten minutes. They spread the gap out to eight at 18-10 as Rachel Childress immediately sank a three to start the second quarter. 

Abby Morgan checked into the game for CU and registered three back-to-back buckets- including one from outside the arc- to cut it down to three at 20-17. The Phoenix were held scoreless for the next three minutes until Freeman checked in and changed the pace of the game, sinking six before the break and giving CU their first lead of the match.

Cumberland went into halftime with a one bucket advantage after a 12-4 run to wrap up quarter two.

The Phoenix were held to just a bucket in the first six minutes of the third quarter, but a jumper from Jana Claire Swaford completely shifted the momentum in favor of CU and they reclaimed the lead. Cumberland entered the final quarter with a one bucket advantage at 29-27.

It was a tight, physical battle to finish out the final quarter, with the teams trading points for the majority of the minutes. Bethel found the largest gap in the score with back-to-back three pointers at a 46-43 score, but Keara Sexton responded with a last second three of her own to equalize it. 

In the final few minutes of play, Bethel found an opening with a made layup that resulted in a plus one foul, giving them another crucial three point edge. Kayal Gordon charged to the basket and picked up a foul, cutting the lead down to two with a made three throw.

The Phoenix fought relentlessly to force the game into extra minutes with their defensive pressure. The Wildcats stepped out of bounds after inbounding the ball and gave CU possession with less than twenty seconds to play.

Gordon once again caught hands on her way to the basket and was sent to the line. This time she sank both free throws to tie it up 49-49 and send the game into overtime. 

Cumberland jumped into overtime with a five point run and found the largest lead of the game since the first quarter. They held down the lead for the entire ten minutes and came out on top with a score 61-43. 

Cumberland improves their record to 8-3 overall, 5-2 conference. They will be back on their home court next Thursday to take on No. 22 Georgetown at 5:30 pm.