Humes hits late FT to lift Lady Dawgs

HENDERSON — C'Kala Humes hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds left Friday afternoon as Cumberland's women squeezed out a 57-55 season-opening win over Loyola in the Lionbackers Classic at Freed-Hardeman.
Loyola tied the score 55-55 with 8.5 seconds left.
Point guard Ashley Cross drove the ball to midcourt before passing down the floor to Humes, who was fouled and went to the line.
The No. 13 Lady Bulldogs trailed 28-26 at halftime before rallying for the win.
"Their matchup defense gave us a lot of problems," Cumberland coach Clint Mason said. "The first half we didn't have a lot of intensity.
"We had three players step it up in the second half – C.K. (Humes), Tomika (Hall) and Isabelli (Cunico)."
Humes knocked down 19 points and nine rebounds from inside for CU while fellow post Hall had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Cunico tossed in 12 and passed for five assists off the bench.
Kari Maddox finished with four points for Cumberland while Cross collected six assists to go with three points. Renae Williams, Kristin Kirkland and Mariel Ruis each tossed in two points.
Mason also prasied the play of Kirkland and Ewa Bukowska off the bench.
Kiely Schork threw in three 3-pointers on her way to 15 points to lead Loyola. Trenell Smith tossed in 12 points and Marley Milton 10. Dani Holland hauled in 15 rebounds.
Cumberland outrebounded the Lady Wolfpack 46-43 as both teams shot under 32 percent from the floor.
"Good win and we'll move on and be ready for Reinhardt," Mason said of today's noon foe at Freed.