Phoenix Fall Short in Late Collapse to Life, Drop to 4-3 Despite Strong Effort from Young Squad
Young Phoenix battle but can’t close; Vaughn’s third-year rebuild continues to show progress and growing pains.
LEBANON, TN - Cumberland women’s basketball led for stretches and held a three-point edge with just over two minutes left, but Life University closed on a 12-1 run to escape with a 76-68 victory Wednesday afternoon at Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena.
The Phoenix (4-3) controlled stretches of the game and stayed within striking distance until the final minutes. They shot just 3-of-20 from three-point range and allowed 16 offensive rebounds, factors head coach Mark Vaughn pointed to afterward as decisive.
“All the credits to Life University. Great team, but we just got to make plays,” Vaughn said. “We’re 3 of 20 from three, not gonna get it done, and then giving up 16 offensive rebounds. So we really just got to clean up that aspect, but for a young team, I thought we played hard. We just got to execute better.”
Emaleigh Tarpley led Cumberland with 21 points and nine rebounds, adding four assists and three steals. Braley Bushman contributed 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Dayonna Perryman added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Faith Colston grabbed seven rebounds. The Phoenix forced 21 turnovers and scored 23 points off them while collecting 11 steals and pouring in 42 points in the paint.
Cumberland led 16-13 after one quarter and 33-31 at halftime. They pushed the advantage to as many as 10 in the third before Life’s perimeter shooting (five threes in the period) erased the gap. The Phoenix reclaimed the lead in the fourth and held a 67-64 edge with 2:15 remaining, but Life answered and finished the game on free throws while holding Cumberland scoreless down the stretch.
The loss leaves the Phoenix at 4-3 early in the season, a mark that already reflects positive progress for a young roster under Vaughn. In his third year as head coach—and his first career head coaching position after years as an assistant at Bethel—Vaughn inherited a program that needed rebuilding. Last season the team finished 15-14 overall, a clear step forward from the previous year.
“We’re young, so it’s going to be a lot of growing pains, but they’re a very coachable team,” Vaughn said. “I think every game we’re going to get better… We have about four freshmen that play over 25 minutes. But I got two seniors that are leaders, especially by example. Emily Tarpley and Faith Colston. They’ve been with me since the first year. This is going into year three, so a lot of respect for them, staying through the hard times, and now they’re getting to reap the benefits of it.”
Vaughn has deliberately scheduled a challenging non-conference slate to prepare for a tough Mid-South Conference, where nearly every opponent is ranked or receiving votes. “We play a pretty hard non-conference schedule just to get ready, battle tested. And you just hope your team’s playing their best basketball in March.”
Next up is a home game Tuesday, Nov. 17, against Oakwood University at 5:30 p.m. at Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena. Vaughn said the staff would review film quickly and begin preparations within 24 hours, noting Oakwood’s strong post presence and the need for guards to help inside while looking to push the tempo in transition.
The schedule also includes upcoming games in McKenzie, Tenn., a December trip to Puerto Rico for games against the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon and Morningside, and additional home dates before conference play begins.
Vaughn closed by encouraging fans to support the group. “Just come out and support. It’s a young team, they’re going to be here for four or five years, and just a really good group of girls. So look forward to seeing everybody next time.”
The Phoenix remain focused on daily improvement as they continue building under Vaughn’s leadership.
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