Pikeville, KY – UC Women's Basketball opened their 2017-2018 season on Friday afternoon against the Buffaloes of Milligan College as part of the 2017 APW Classic. After battling back from an eight point deficit after the first quarter of play, UC would take a lead before the Buffaloes would tie to take the game to overtime. Unfortunately, it was Milligan who controlled the overtime period as they would defeat the Patriots 78-69, sending the Patriots to a 0-1 start on the year.
 
After Madison Meier put the Patriots up 2-0 early, the Buffaloes would run off eight straight points to take the lead. UC would then push to tie the game at 10-10 with just under three minutes left in the quarter, but the Buffaloes would go on an 11-0 run at the end of the period, taking a 21-13 lead at the end of the first. Both teams would trade baskets for much of the second quarter, but as the Buffaloes held a 30-23 lead with 2:19 to play in the half, UC would go on a 7-2 run to finish the half down 32-30.
 
UC would regain the lead for the first time in the second half with 3:08 to play in the third as Megan Morton would finish a second chance opportunity, giving the Patriots a 39-38 lead. UC would extend that lead to 48-44 to end the third. In the fourth, UC's opening basket of the period by Meier gave the Patriots their largest lead of the game at 50-44, but the Buffaloes would battle back. Milligan would outscore the Patriots 16-10 the rest of the frame to take the game to overtime tied at 60.
 
In OT, UC would jump out quick to a 65-61 lead, but Milligan would not go away quietly as they went on an 8-3 run to tie the game at 68 with 2:03 to play. The Buffaloes would go on a 9-0 run over the next minute and a half to lead 77-68 before winning the game 78-69.
 
The Patriots were led on the night by Cheyenne Madden with 26 points (11-16 FG) and nine rebounds. Kayla Bruner added 14 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Ashley Jackson and Madison Meier would combine for another 17 points in the game. UC shot 42% from the field as a team, but would end the game with 29 turnovers and 26 fouls, sending Milligan to the line often where they went 20-31 from the charity stripe.
 
The Patriots finish action at the 2017 APW Classic on Saturday, November 4^th with a game against Bluefield College. Tipoff is set for 12 pm.

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