PULASKI, Tenn. – The UT Southern women's basketball team remained undefeated on the season with a 65–62 overtime victory over Cumberland (Tenn.) Tuesday night inside the Curry Athletic Complex.
The Firehawks came out firing in the first quarter, jumping to a commanding 26–13 lead behind a near-perfect offensive start. Lauren Smith opened the game with a layup and a three-pointer, and Taya Totten buried another triple to make it 8–2 early. Ashley Dickey then took control, scoring eight first-quarter points, while Ramie Reid went 4-for-4 from the field as UT Southern shot 67 percent in the opening frame.
The second quarter saw the Firehawks cool off as Cumberland tightened defensively. Marypaz Martinez provided a spark off the bench with two layups, while Reid and Dickey added key free throws to maintain a 36–26 advantage at halftime.
Cumberland clawed back in the third, hitting four three-pointers in the period to close within 43–43 by the end of the quarter. Smith and Reid each contributed big baskets for UTS, while Silkiari Vazquez-Troche and Martinez added hustle plays and key stops to steady the Firehawks through the rough stretch.
The fourth quarter turned into a defensive battle. Dickey's strong drives and Reid's presence in the paint helped the Firehawks hold off repeated Cumberland rallies. With less than two minutes remaining, Dickey's jumper extended the lead to 57–52 before Cumberland forced overtime with a layup in the final seconds to tie the game at 57–57.
In the extra frame, Reid broke the tie with a layup and a free throw to put UT Southern back ahead. Mia Jones added two clutch free throws, and Reid hit two more at the line to seal the win. The Firehawks' defense held firm in the final seconds to preserve the 65–62 victory.
Firehawk Leaders
Ashley Dickey: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists
Ramie Reid: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks
Lauren Smith: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Silkiari Vazquez-Troche: 11 assists, 4 steals, 3 rebounds
Marypaz Martinez: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block
UT Southern shot 37.5 percent from the field while holding Cumberland to 35.6 percent. The Firehawks owned the paint with a 38–24 scoring advantage inside and forced 23 turnovers on defense.
Team Comparison
| Category |
UT Southern |
Cumberland |
| Field Goals |
24-of-64 (37.5%) |
21-of-59 (35.6%) |
| 3-Point FG |
4-of-15 (26.7%) |
7-of-19 (36.8%) |
| Free Throws |
13-of-16 (81.3%) |
13-of-16 (81.3%) |
| Rebounds |
38 |
34 |
| Assists |
17 |
12 |
| Turnovers |
23 |
23 |
| Points in the Paint |
38 |
24 |
| Fast Break Points |
13 |
2 |
| Bench Points |
10 |
16 |
Up Next
UT Southern (4–0) travels to Columbia, Ky., for the UC Bank Classic hosted by Lindsey Wilson College. The Firehawks face No. 3 Campbellsville on Friday at 5 p.m.
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