Rio Grande SID

LEBANNON, Tenn. - The University of Rio Grande Redwomen basketball team finished off a tough week on Friday night and Saturday afternoon dropping a pair of games in the Cumberland University Classic.

Rio lost to NAIA Division I power Freed-Hardeman on Friday, 75-42 and lost to NAIA No. 23 Cumberland on Saturday, 86-78.

Rio Grande (5-4) struggled from the start and did not have a single player score in double figures against the Lady Lions. Junior center Candace Ferguson, the former Ironton standout, led the Redwomen with six points and seven rebounds.

Freed-Hardeman (11-1), ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Division I preseason poll, rolled to a convincing win after coming out strong, jumping into the lead early and not looking back. Poor shooting marked the first half, but the Lady Lions made up for it by capitalizing on second chance baskets and fast break opportunities.

This proved to be more than the Redwomen could handle as Freed-Hardeman took a 37-20 lead at halftime.

Defense was the cornerstone in the Lady Lions win as they forced 27 turnovers while forcing the Redwomen to take shots that were not there.

The Redwomen came out of the gate slow on Saturday versus Cumberland as well, falling behind by 15 points (50-35) at the half.

Rio made a second half charge only to fall short by eight points.

Senior Tiffanie Hager proved she is back and ready to be a force again.

Hager led the Redwomen 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench in 17 minutes.

Drabinski added 12 points and six boards and freshman post player Erin Kume tossed in 10 points and collected seven rebounds.

Ferguson had eight points and dished out, a team-high, six assists.

Cumberland (7-0) placed five players in double figures paced by CKala Humes with 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Juliana Fernandes added 14 points and dished out six assists.

Isabelli Cunico tossed in 12 points while Natasha Manis and Renae Williams each chipped in 11 points.

Rio Grande shot 48 percent (30-of-62) from the field, 36 percent (5-of-14) from three-point land and 62 percent (13-of-21) from the free throw line.

Cumberland countered with 47 percent (35-of-75) shooting from the field, 29 percent (7-of-24) from three-point land and 56 percent (9-of-16) from the charity stripe.

Rio did manage to out-rebound Cumberland, 29-23 and also turned the ball over more times (26-18) than did the host.

After a tough 0-3 week for the Redwomen, they will return to face American Mideast Conference South Division foe Mount Vernon Nazarene on Saturday.

Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

WKOV will broadcast the game beginning at 5:40 p.m.