Pikeville, KY – A strong second half would put the UC Women's Basketball team in a position to win their regular season finale on Saturday at the University of Pikeville. With the game tied at 58-58 and 29.5 seconds on the clock, the Patriots would have a chance for the final shot. UC would turn to the hot hand of Shayla Simpson who would sink a game winner with 3.2 seconds remaining to defeat the Bears 60-58. The win improves UC's overall record to 15-12 and 4-10 in MSC play.
 
UC would fall behind early as the Bears would go on a 10-4 run to open the game. The Pats would score one more bucket, but the Bears would extend their lead to 14-6 at the end of the quarter. UPike would continue to extend their lead in the second, jumping out front as much as 12 at 23-11 with seven minutes to play in the half. There, UC turned their offense around. Cumberlands would go on a 13-4 run to bring the game within three at 27-24 at the half.
 
A back and forth battle would ensue in the third as UPike would get their lead back up to seven midway through the quarter, but the Patriots would rally strongly. Down 36-29, UC would go on a 12-2 run to take a three point lead 41-38 to enter the fourth. Cumberlands would begin the fourth strong as well, outscoring UPike 9-3 to hold a 50-42 lead with just over five minutes to play. The Bears would then battle back as they would tie the game at 55-55 with just under two minutes left in the game.
 
Shayla Simpson would bury a three with a minute left to go up 58-55. UPike would come down and tie the game at 58 with a three of their own, giving UC the ball with the shot clock turned off. The Patriots stayed with the hot hand as Simpson drove into the paint and would put up a fade away that found the bottom of the net, pushing UC out front 60-58 with 3.2 seconds remaining. UPike would call timeout to advance the ball, but would never get a shot off as UC would come away with the victory.
 
Simpson led the way for the Patriots with 24 points and 10 rebounds, notching her second double-double of the year. Ashley Jackson added 13 points off the bench with four shots made from beyond the arc. Cheyenne Madden chipped in 11 points and five rebounds in the win. UC finished the game shooting 36.4% from the field, but would go 15-21 from the charity stripe.
 
UC has locked in the sixth seed in the Mid-South Conference Tournament and will take on the third-ranked Lindsey Wilson College in the quarterfinals. That game is scheduled for Thursday, March 1^st at the East Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville and will tip-off at approximately 4 pm.
 
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