Marietta, GA – Trailing 18-14, the seventh-ranked University of the Cumberlands women's wrestling team won the final three matches to knock off fourth-ranked Life 26-20 Thursday night.  With the win the Patriots improve to 10-5 overall and 3-0 against the MSC, while the Running Eagles fall to 5-4 and 2-2 in conference play. 

Life took an early 5-0 lead as eighth-ranked Amber Garriga won by forfeit at 101 lbs.  Cumberlands evened the score as 13^th-ranked Jessica Rodriguez pinned fifth-ranked Faye Cherrier at the 3:15 mark.  Sixth-ranked Autumn Gordon followed with a 9-6 decision over 11^th-ranked Tyesha Topps to give UC an 8-6 edge. Life posted back-to-back tech falls at 123 and 130 to take a 14-9 lead midway through the match.

Cumberlands cut the deficit to two points as sixth-ranked Bridgette Duty notched a 12-2 tech fall over Julia Vidallon.  Life pushed the lead to 18-14, before second-ranked Anna Naylor pinned Claudine Mutesi in 1:40 to put Cumberlands in front 19-18.  16^th-ranked Payton Rigert followed with an 8-5 decision over tenth-ranked Destinee Rivera at 170 lbs.  Seventh-ranked Jesse Kirby clinched the match for the Patriots with a 12-3 decision over seventh-ranked Jordan Nelson for the 25-20 final.

The Patriots will return to the mat Friday, January 11, when they travel to Mount Vernon, GA to face Brewton-Parker in their conference finale at 2 p.m. UC will also compete in the Brewton-Parker Robins on Saturday.

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