Bears showcase impressive fight, fall in physical battle with No. 7 Cumberlands (Ky.), 78-66

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. -- Contests between the Shawnee State women's basketball program and the Cumberlands (Ky.) women's basketball program are always entertaining battles.

The efforts of both programs were terrific again Wednesday evening -- but the Bears, despite going up against a No. 7-ranked Patriots unit that averaged an NAIA-best 95.3 points per night coming into a nonconference road matchup -- were more than up to the task.

Coming into the night with the nation's best scoring defense, Shawnee State countered a 28-12 first-quarter advantage by Cumberlands with an impressive defensive display that saw the Bears rally back from a 16-point deficit to within a 60-57 margin with 6:24 to play in the contest. However, SSU's spirited effort ultimately ran out of gas as the Bears dropped a 78-66 decision to Cumberlands (Ky.) in a nonconference contest that was held at the O. Wayne Rollins Center in Williamsburg, Ky.

The Rundown

In the physical grudge match, Shawnee State allowed Cumberlands to shoot 62.5 percent from three-point range in the opening quarter as the Bears trailed by a 16-point margin after the first 10 minutes of play. However, the Bears completely reversed the Patriots' hot shooting in the second frame as Cumberlands (Ky.) was held to 29.4 percent shooting and a 16.7 percent mark from three-point range during that 10-minute stretch, allowing Shawnee State to close the halftime mark to a 42-30 deficit.

Along with its improved defensive performance from a shot contest standpoint over the final three quarters of action, the Bears hounded the Patriots on the ball as well -- as Cumberlands was forced into 24 turnovers over the final three quarters of play after turning the ball over just once over the first stanza.

Offensively, Shawnee State also showcased growth in terms of attempting to make the extra pass as the Bears collected 11 assists on its 22 made baskets Wednesday, leading to a balanced scoring effort that was needed against a talented Cumberlands unit, and also went 18-of-23 (78.3 percent) from the free throw line. However, Shawnee State did commit 19 turnovers and were held to a 22-of-60 mark from the field, although the Bears did show promising flashes on the offense end, particularly in executing in the halfcourt, over the final three quarters of action.

Gloster helps greatly with double-double performance

Playing with a high motor again on both ends of the floor, Shawnee State senior forward Cianna Gloster was again huge for the Bears -- especially in the opening half of action.

With two of Shawnee State's top three scorers -- Markayla Holland and Jariah Steele -- dealing with early foul trouble, Gloster stepped up in a major way as the 6-0 senior forward posted nine points, five rebounds, one steal and one block on 4-of-6 shooting to lead the Bears back into the thick of the fight.

Gloster scored eight consecutive points for Shawnee State between the first and second quarters, and her play on both sides of the court ultimately led to a 15-point, 12-rebound, three-steal, one-block statline on 6-of-12 shooting in another strong display of basketball by the Flint, Mich. native, who played a team-high 36 minutes. Gloster now has 23 double-doubles in 36 career contests at Shawnee State.

Gregory showcases strong floor game

Playing in 33 minutes herself at the lead guard spot, East Lansing, Mich.'s Sanaya Gregory wasn't phased by the prolific guard play that Cumberlands (Ky.) brought to the table.

In fact, Gregory enjoyed one of her most efficient outings since arriving at Shawnee State thanks in part to a big second half where the senior guard, a consistent two-year starter in the SSU lineup, collected 13 second-half points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field.

As part of that output, Gregory scored or assisted on three out of Shawnee State's first four baskets to help SSU trim a 42-30 halftime deficit down to 45-38, then scored or assisted on three additional buckets as part of a 13-2 run that saw SSU rally from a 58-44 third quarter deficit to a scant 60-57 deficit with 6:24 to go.

Ultimately, Gregory, a guard who continues to value the basketball at a positive rate, posted three assists to just one turnover and went 6-of-13 from the field as well as 4-of-5 from the free throw line to boot. Gregory also collected a steal on the defensive end of the floor as well.

Additional

Along with Gloster and Gregory, Shawnee State got 22 bench points with Jonilyah Chambers, Lauren Hawthorne and Jada Johnson each contributing five points apiece and Miyoshi Ellis (four assists, two points), Emily Maynard (three points) and Amiya Latham (two points) all contributing to the tally as the speed, versatility, physicality, shooting ability and decision making of the six players were all helpful at different points. Chambers and Hawthorne each obtained two steals apiece as well. Markayla Holland still contributed four blocks defensively to aid on the defensive end of the floor while Jariah Steele and Lexi Deaver combined for the final five tallies. Each of the last three players also supplied a steal to boot.

Shawnee State (5-1) will take on West Virginia Tech (1-8) in its River States Conference opener at approximately 3 p.m. -- which follows the Shawnee State men's basketball program's contest against West Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. along with a ceremony honoring the 2000 NAIA World Series baseball team prior to the beginning of the women's game.