Williamsburg, KY – UC Women's Basketball would take to the hardwood for the third time in four days on Monday as they hosted the Buccaneers of the University of the Virgin Islands. A fast start would push Cumberlands out front, but UVI would rally in the second and third to take a lead. The Patriots would use a strong fourth quarter to overcome the Buccaneers by a score of 53-43. The win improves UC to 9-3 overall on the season.
After UVI opened the scoring of the contest with a hoop-and-harm by Laura Costello to go up 3-0, UC would go on a 13-0 run the rest of the first quarter including shots from deep by
Megan Morton,
Abbey Estes, and
Callia Cropp to lead 13-3 entering the second. The Buccaneers would cut the lead down to two at one point midway through the second quarter, but UC would push back to hold a 24-16 lead at the break.
Cumberlands would have a round third quarter ahead of them. Although the lead grew to 14 with seven minutes left in the quarter, UVI would then go on a 17-1 run to close out the frame with a 33-31 lead with ten minutes to play. After regaining the lead early in the quarter, UC would look like the Patriots of old as they settled in to pull away for a 53-43 win.
Jasmine Rhodes led the way for the Patriots with her fourth double-double of the season and second consecutive with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Shayla Simpson added 11 points, four rebounds, four steals, and a pair of helpers in the win. Eight other Patriots also found themselves in the scoring column. Cumberlands shot just 27.3% from the field and 14.3% from behind the arc, but did score 24 points off of 29 forced turnovers in the contest.
UVI's Costello had a double-double in the loss with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Buccaneers shot 25% from the floor and just 2-15 (13.3%) from three point range.
The Patriots return to action on Saturday, December 8
th as they host the Tigers of Voorhees College. UC will attempt to avenge a 61-60 loss to the Tigers just last weekend in South Carolina. Tip-off is slated for 2 pm.
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