The UVI home sports schedule started this week as the women’s basketball team hosted Cumberland University for a pair of games at the Sports and Fitness Center.
Oct. 9 – Cumberland University 65, UVI 47
The UVI Lady Bucs fell in their first game of the 2019-20 season to Cumberland University 65-47.
Cumberland took an early lead in the contest as they jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first five minutes.
UVI did not let the game get away early as they trimmed the deficit to six and trailed 14-8 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Cumberland once again started well and increased their advantage to double digits, but when Aizia Travis got fouled while converting a layup – and hit the ensuing free throw – the UVI deficit was down to just four with about four minutes to go in the half.
UVI tied the game at 21 with just over two minutes to go but a 9-0 Cumberland run that included a buzzer beater saw the visitors lead 30-21 at the halftime break.
The Lady Bucs shrunk the deficit down to six with a three pointer on the first possession of the half.
But later in the quarter, it was Cumberland’s turn to find some range as back-to-back three pointers saw the lead increase to 11 with just under five minutes to go in the third quarter.
The deficit got back to single digits after Rhea Benjamin hit a three pointer while getting fouled – and made the following free throw – with just under a minute and a half left in the quarter.
UVI didn’t come closer than that the rest of the game as Cumberland dominated the final quarter.
The leading scorers for the Lady Bucs were Jaydn Rice, Benjamin and Travis with 15, 13 and 11 points respectively.
Oct 10 – Cumberland University 59, UVI 38
Cumberland once again took an early lead as they jumped out with a 7-2 run over the game’s first two and a half minutes, but UVI was able to cut the deficit to one by the six minute mark of the first quarter.
Cumberland then scored the game’s next seven points to grow their advantage to 14-6 in the early going.
The teams exchanged baskets for the remainder of the quarter and the Lady Phoenix lead 18-13 at the end of the initial period.
The second quarter was dominated by the visitors as they outscored the Lady Bucs 13-2 to build a 31-15 halftime edge.
UVI scored the first four points of the second half to trim the deficit to 12 but that was as close as they got for the remainder of the game.
Cumberland scored the next six points but UVI fought to bring the margin down to 12 again with 2:10 left in the third quarter.
Heading into the final quarter of play Cumberland University lead 42-25.
The leading scorers for UVI were Rice with 16 points and Travis with 10 points.
Men’s basketball will tipoff their season on Friday, Oct. 19, against the University of Maine Kent and on Saturday, Oct. 20, against Alice Llyod with both games beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Sports and Fitness Center.
The men’s soccer team will play their first ever home game at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 4:30 p.m. against Florida National University.
