AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (7-6) vs. Cumberland University Phoenix (4-7)
When: Thursday, December 19, 2019
Where: Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Live Stream Video & Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fmulions/index.htm

 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – After suffering their first home loss of the 2019 season this past Tuesday, Florida Memorial University's women's basketball team will look to rebound and close out the 2019 calendar year with a victory on its home floor when it hosts Cumberland University (Tenn.) Thursday night in the FMU Wellness Center at 7 p.m.
 
It will be the first meeting between the Lady Lions (7-6) and the Phoenix, as Florida Memorial looks to earn a win before it goes on two-week holiday break. FMU's women won't take the floor again until after the calendar page turns to 2020 when they host Sun Conference foe Southeastern University on January 4.
 
Florida Memorial head coach Gregory Stanback hopes that Thursday's game won't be a repeat of Tuesday's calamitous performance. Against Texas Wesleyan, FMU shot poorly – to the tune of 35 percent from the field – and turned the ball over 24 times. Also, the Lady Lions only shot two free throws on the night – making just one.
 
After Tuesday's loss, Stanback said that his team didn't play with the requisite energy needed to deserve a victory – something he saw in his squad as far back as the practice days before the game.
 
Surely motivated by the 17-point gut-punch on their home floor, FMU will take on a Cumberland University team that is already reeling – coming in as losers of its past four games. Most recently, the Phoenix were handed a 71-67 defeat by Johnson & Wales University (Fla.).
 
Like it did Tuesday, Florida Memorial will have the front court height advantage on its opponent thanks to 6-foot-4 forward Isis Lane. Lane too will be looking to bounce back individually from her performance in Tuesday's game. Though she finished tied with Shawnice King tied for the team-high with 12 points, her streak of consecutive games recording a double-double was snapped after she only snagged seven boards.
 
On most nights, Cumberland is powered by junior guard Mackenzie Trouten, who averages just under 12 points per game. 5-foot-10 sophomore forward Britany Miller has also been a consistent contributor for the Phoenix as she is just shy (9.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game) of averaging a double-double.
 
The blueprint to victory for the Lady Lions is well-outlined and is fairly simple, though; having guards make prudent decisions with the ball to limit turnovers and winning the rebound battle.
 

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