Beckley, WV – After a solid start to the game, it was second half shooting struggles from beyond the arc that would hurt the UC Women's Basketball team as they would give up a six-point lead at the break to fall to the Golden Bears of West Virginia Tech University by a final of 81-74. The loss drops the Patriots' overall record to 7-2 on the season.
 
The Patriots and Bears would trade baskets through the first three minutes of the first quarter, seeing the game tied at 9-9. UC would then pull away to a seven-point lead at 24-17 as Shayla Simpson would score eight points in the quarter with Alani Fisher adding seven in the period. In the second, the Patriots would see their lead jump out quickly to 10 on baskets by both Cheyenne Madden and Simpson. Both those ladies would score six points each in the quarter, but the Bears would ultimately cut slightly into the Patriot lead, which sat at 39-33 at the half.
 
The third quarter though saw the Patriots go cold from the field. UC would go just 3-10 from the floor including 0-3 from deep with three turnovers for just nine points in the quarter. The Bears however would begin the quarter on an 8-2 run in the opening 2:39 to tie the game at 41-41. West Virginia Tech would then outscore the Pats 13-7 the rest of the quarter to take a 54-48 lead into the final quarter of play. UC's three-point shooting woes would continue here, going just 1-6 from three-point range in the quarter. The Patriots would battle though, scoring 15 points in the first six minutes of the quarter to cut the lead down to one at 64-63. There though, Tech would go on an 7-1 run to close out the game and come away with the seven-point win.
 
Leading the way for UC was Madden with her fourth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Simpson added 21 points, six rebounds, two steals, a block, and an assist. Callia Cropp came off the bench and chipped in 11 points and four rebounds while Alani Fisher pitched in 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
 
The Patriot ladies shot 46.8% from the field in the contest, but were 5-21 from beyond the arc in the loss. UC also went just 11-20 from the charity stripe. The Bears saw a big push come from their bench in the game, doubling up the production of UC's reserves by a margin of 32-16.
 
UC returns home to the O. Wayne Rollins Center on Friday, December 8^th as they will host the Cougars of Carver College for a non-conference matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 pm. Brandon Hensley and Tommy Chasanoff will have the call on the UC Sports Network.
 
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