Lady Bulldogs fall short in exhibition

Inman wins TSU debut 52-49

NASHVILLE – Yalonda Davis’ 3-pointer at the buzzer hit off the back of the rim and Tennessee State held on for a 52-49 victory over Cumberland in an exhibition game for the Lady Bulldogs Friday night at the Gentry Center.

It was the debut game for new TSU coach Larry Joe Inman, who coached Lebanon High's girls' team the previous two seasons and coached Mt. Juliet to the 1977 state championship.

The Lady Bulldogs held the lead for most of the game but did not score in the final 1:31 of the game after two free throws from Jessica Pace gave CU a 49-46 advantage. Rachel Allen made a short jumper on TSU’s next possession and assisted on Destiney Gaston’s layup with 43.7 seconds remaining, giving the Tigers (1-0) a 50-49 edge.

Allen hit one free throw with 25.8 seconds left and the Bulldogs had two good shots to tie the game, with Pace missing a layup and London Elie’s put-back rimming out. Simone Hopes made one foul shot after being fouled on the rebound and CU set up the play for Davis, who had a good look at the trifecta, albeit from some 23 feet.

Pace led the Bulldogs with 11 points and nine rebounds and Briannica Tye added 11 points and four assists, including two straight buckets at the five-minute mark that tied the contest at 43. Both teams had chances to take control of the game, but Cumberland committed 30 turnovers while TSU finished just 10-of-26 at the charity stripe, including 6-for-18 in the second half.

Elie finished with six points and seven boards and Josette Campbell added seven points, including a runner off the glass with 2:46 remaining that tied the score at 46.

Hopes paced the Tigers with 14 points and was 4-of-7 on free throws. She also tied for the team lead with eight caroms and Chelsea Hudson posted seven points and eight boards for TSU. Avery Jones added nine points before fouling out for the Tigers.

The Bulldogs hit back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers from Campbell, Tye and Simone Ryan to take a 13-3 advantage in the first seven minutes of the contest, but a string of turnovers allowed TSU back into the game. The Tigers put together a 12-4 spurt thanks to eight miscues from the Bulldogs and trailed 19-15 with 7:28 to play in the half.

Elie picked up a loose ball and hit a layup to give CU the four-point edge, but it was the final basket of the period for Cumberland, which went 0-for-3 with seven turnovers the remainder of the half. The Bulldogs survived at the foul line, as TSU was whistled for six fouls in the final five-plus minutes of the period and CU knocked down 5-of-8 foul shots to take a 24-22 edge at intermission.

Cumberland heads to Mobile, Ala., for a 4:30 p.m. contest today against Spring Hill and will open Mid-South Conference play next Thursday at Rio Grande in Ohio.