Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots women's basketball team was not able to capitalize on their late lead in their Mid-South Conference match-up with Cumberland University, losing in the final minutes 75-71. Cumberlands record moves to 12-10 overall and 0-7 in MSC action as the Phoenix rally for their second conference win.

Jasmine Rhodes led the Patriots, tallying her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes of action. Eight of the 11 rebounds by Rhodes were on the offensive side of the court, leading to 20 second-chance points. Hannah Lawson and Shayla Simpson also scored double figures, putting up 16 – all in the second half – and 12 respectively. Lawson commanded her shots from beyond the arc, going three of five in her almost 35 minutes of playing time.

The Phoenix opened action on the floor taking the tip and downing two baskets to go up on the Patriots. Simpson follows up with a three from the corner to close the margin. After holding Cumberland scoreless on the following possession, pressure by Kayla Bruner forced a Phoenix turnover, allowing Rhodes to score in the paint to give the Patriots a 5-4 lead. Cumberlands continued to press full court as Callia Cropp takes a steal, but the Patriots are unable to convert on the other end of the floor. The Patriots defense continually forced shots from the outside, however the Phoenix comfortably went 4-7 from beyond the arc to keep a 25-19 lead going into the second quarter.

Following a Phoenix three point shot and subsequent timeout, the Patriots tried to find Rhodes in the paint, but the senior was only able to make one of her free throws after being fouled on the shot. From there, Cumberland went on a 10-1 run to extend their lead to 35-20 with six minutes left in the half. Megan Morton ended the run, downing a basket in the paint. Two minutes later, Simpson tallied a pair of free throws to narrow the margin to an 11 point differential. Simpson made two more field goals, forcing Cumberland to take a timeout with 3:16 on the clock. Off the break, Cropp scored from beyond the arc to bring the Patriot run to 11-0. Ashley Jackson contributed a pair of free throws, continuing to hold the Phoenix scoreless for over five and a half minutes until Briana Vandlen made one of two free throws. Jackson put up two more free throws with 0.3 seconds on the clock to go into halftime after overcoming a large margin, only down 36-35.

The Patriots take possession going into the second half and Lawson gets on the board with her first field goal of the night. Cumberlands is unable to down another basket as the Phoenix score on back-to-back possessions to bring the score to 41-37 and force a UC timeout. After a pair of good free throws by Rhodes, Lawson scores in the paint to tie up the game at 41 apiece. Rhodes scored on second chance to give the Patriots their first lead since the first quarter. Lawson tallied a three-point field goal following an old-fashioned three by the Phoenix to stay on top, 46-44. After a Cumberland basket, Lawson grabs an old-fashioned three of her own, scoring in the paint and drawing the foul. With just over three minutes left in the quarter, a three by Simpson extends the Patriot lead to 52-48. The Phoenix tie it up again, but Summer Cramer and Rhodes put up points in the paint to regain their footing, going into the final quarter up 56-55.

The Patriot momentum did not slow even after Simpson fouled out late in the third. Rhodes led off the quarter with a reverse layup under the rim, beginning an 8-2 run for the Patriots. Back-to-back threes by Lawson after a Phoenix turnover resulted in a big swing in UC's favor, bringing the score to 64-57, their largest lead of the afternoon. The Phoenix shifted the momentum again, able to move the ball down the floor faster than the Patriots to take an 11-2 run with three minutes left in the game. Bruner got on the scoreboard, downing a three to narrow the gap. Rhodes put up a score on second chance to keep the game close, as the Patriots enter the final minute down by one. The Phoenix go up three after free throws as Rhodes fouled out while attempting to grab a rebound. Abbey Estes was unable to put up a three to tie the game as the Patriots bow out in a 75-71 defeat.

The women's basketball squad will see Pikeville on home court to continue their three-game swing in the O. Wayne Rollins Center on January 31.

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