HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The IU Southeast women's basketball team fell to Cumberland 66-52 in the Grenadiers' season opener.
 
Cumberland opened the game on a 6-0 run and led 11-2 nearly eight minutes into the first quarter. The Phoenix led 18-9 after a quarter.
 
IU Southeast opened the second quarter with back-to-back baskets to make it 18-13, but Cumberland extended their lead to 10 at 23-13. A three helped Cumberland maintain a 10-point lead at 29-19 later in the quarter. IU Southeast was able to cut the lead to eight as Cumberland led 35-27 at the half.
 
Cumberland opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run to extend their advantage to 44-27. Cumberland maintained a double-digit lead throughout the third and took a 56-41 lead into the fourth.
 
Cumberland led by as many as 19 in the fourth and would go on to win 66-52.
 
"We need to learn how to make every repetition matter," said IU Southeast interim head coach Derek Sims. "There are some good spots in our game at times and then others we either lack fundamentals or discipline. We're still trying to figure each other out. I see some good things at times, but the consistency is not there. We need more repetition and time in the gym. We'll get that in the near future."
 
Lexi Starr led IU Southeast with 11 points and three steals. Carley Higgins had nine points off the bench in her collegiate debut. Karly Sweeney had eight points and five rebounds off the bench. Linzie Wernert had seven points and seven rebounds, and Jesse Ledgerwood also added seven points.
 
IU Southeast takes on No. 7 Cumberlands on Saturday.