Williamsburg, KY – After a first half that saw the UC Women's Basketball team hold an eight point lead at the half, but an explosion of offense in the second half from the visiting Bears of the University of Pikeville would see the Patriots fall by a final of 54-47. The loss moves UC to 13-6 on the season and 2-4 in MSC play.
The Patriots jumped out early to a 5-0 lead on the Bears with a three from
Shayla Simpson and a basket by
Jasmine Rhodes. After two field goals from UPike, Cumberlands would go on a 10-4 run to take a 15-8 lead into the second quarter of play. Both teams would go cold early as the first field goal didn't come until the 5:51 mark of the second quarter from
Brandi Williams, making it 17-8 Patriots. UC would add to their lead, pushing the margin all the way out to 15 after baskets by Rhodes,
Cheyenne Madden, and two free throws from Rhodes to make it 23-8 with 3:49 to play in the half. The Bears would then go on a 7-0 run of their own to close out the quarter, bringing the lead back down to eight at 23-15 at the half.
In the third, the teams would trade buckets for much of the quarter until the 1:03 mark. With the score 37-27 UC, UPike would go on another 7-0 run to close the gap to 37-33 entering the final 10 minutes of play. The Bears' offense would then find a groove, opening up the quarter outscoring Cumberlands 11-4 in the first 4:30 of the quarter to take a 44-41 lead over the Patriots. UC would do everything they could to slow down the Bears, but a few late turnovers coupled with shaky shooting from the field late would send UC to the mid-week loss in conference play.
Jasmine Rhodes would tally her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Cheyenne Madden would come off the bench and add 13 points and four rebounds in the loss. All nine Patriots who played would score in the contest as UC shot 36% from the field. Cumberlands would turn the ball over 19 times which led to 20 points for UPike, who shot 38% from the floor.
UC returns to action on Saturday, January 27
th as they travel north to Portsmouth, Ohio to take on the NAIA fourth-ranked Bears of Shawnee State University in the first game of a Mid-South Conference doubleheader. Game time is set for 2 pm.
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