NAIA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK:Bulldogs had extra incentive

JACKSON, Tenn. — Cumberland players, as well as Coach Clint Mason, said the seeds to the Bulldogs’ 68-64 upset of top-seeded Vanguard in the semifinals of the NAIA Tournament Monday at Oman Arena, might have taken root at the Final Four press conference on Sunday.

Mason, senior forward C’Kala Humes and senior guard Ashley Cross represented the Bulldogs at the press conference. Mason said Humes and Cross took offense to what they deemed too much media focus on Vanguard (then 31-0) and Union, the two-time defending national champion, which was upset by Lambuth in Monday’s other semifinal.

“[Humes and Cross] came back from the press conference and said it was all about Vanguard and Union,” said Cumberland junior Renae Williams, who hit five three-pointers Monday, including one with 12.7 seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 68-63 lead. “That made us all want to play harder.”

Kiana Williams, a junior guard who made four of her five three-pointers in the first 9:41, the fourth giving Cumberland a 28-15 lead, said she was also motivated by what she learned of the press conference.

“My teammates said that Vanguard was automatically going to the championship game,” Robinson said. “[The Lions] just felt like they were better than us and didn’t respect us. We just wanted to prove to them and everybody else in the world that we’re a top-notch program just like everyone else. We have key players, also.”

Mason said nothing inappropriate or cocky was said by Vanguard players Kelly Schmidt and Jessica Richter, or Coach Russ Davis at the press conference. But he said his players were dismayed by an extra amount of questions, some dealing with potential title-game matchups, asked of the representatives from Vanguard and Union.

“I think any time there’s going to be a team that’s 31-0 and No. 1 in the country, they’re going to get all the praise,” Mason said. “[Vanguard is] a team, after the semifinal loss last year, trying to get to the finals. They have last year’s Player of the Year [Schmidt] back, as well as this year’s Player of the Year [Richter]. I tried to use that as motivation for my team.

“C’Kala came out of the press conference and said ‘You know, Coach, It really is all about Vanguard and Union.’

“I did use that as motivation,” Mason said. “When you’re playing someone who is as good as Vanguard, who is undefeated all year, you’ve got to use anything you can to help your team win. And that was definitely an asset.

“But I really think the way we shot the ball early in the game, set the tone. You know, knocking down the threes. That was the biggest key.”

GETTING INTO THE ZONE

Mason said attacking the vaunted Vanguard two-three zone defense was another key to gaining early confidence for his team.

“I encouraged my team to attack the zone off the dribble and move the basketball quick,” Mason said. “I wanted to use pass fakes and I told my team, if you get an open look, don’t think about it. That was key, getting up by 12 points early, hitting four or five threes early, It really set the tone for the game.”

Said Williams, “We’ve seen zone a lot this year, and we weren’t worried about Vanguard at all. We knew they were going to be good, but we knew we could handle them.

We know that they don’t play as tough a schedule as we do.”

FEEL-GOOD MOMENT, NOT

Though Robinson was on the bench with what is believed to be a torn Achilles tendon, she said she was watching the final seconds unfold.

“Renae’s been doing that all year and I know if we need a big shot, we can go to her,” Robinson said. “She just stepped up and nailed it and that was a great shot by her.”

Did Williams’ late three-pointer make the pain go away, even if for a few seconds?

“No it didn’t,” Robinson said, laughing briefly before returning to a grimace as she felt the pain just then.

SPEAKING OF PAIN

Kelly Schmidt, Vanguard’s four-time All-American who was twice Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year and was NAIA Player of the Year as a junior, finished her distinguished career with school records for points (2,639) and rebounds (1,053).

She was philosophical in the aftermath of the surprising loss.

“I think we did a good job, keeping calm and coming back, when they got off to a quick lead, but things just fell their way in the end and sometimes that just happens,” Schmidt said.

Asked about this being her final game, she said, “It’s tough to be at the end of the road, especially when you’ve been playing basketball your whole life.

“We were prepared either way [win or lose],” she added. “My attitude is the same every game. I believe that basically, the lord knows what’s going to happen in the end. All I can do and all we all can do, is play our hardest. Sometimes you don’t want to accept [losing] at the time. What can you do?”