Louisville, KY – The seventh-ranked University of the Cumberlands women's wrestling team posted a pair of dominating wins to go 2-1 on the first day of competition at the NWCA National Duals Friday night.  The Patriots opened the day with a 48-0 win over Gannon, before falling to King 24-20 in the quarterfinals.  Cumberlands rebounded with a 42-1 win over Nassau in the consolation bracket.

Gannon forfeited the first four matches to give the Patriots an early 20-0 lead.  Sixth-ranked Bridgette Duty and third-ranked Kellyann Jimenez both posted 10-0 tech falls, before Gannon forfeited at 143 lbs. class to extend the lead to 33-0.  Second-ranked Anna Naylor and 16^th-ranked Payton Rigert notched back-to-back falls coupled with a forfeit at the 191 lbs. class led to the 48-0 win.

The Patriots carried that momentum into the second match against King as 13^th-ranked Jessica Rodriguez pinned Jaclyn McNichols at the 1:52 mark to give UC an early 5-0 lead.  Autumn Gordon, ranked sixth in the NAIA, followed with a 10-0 tech fall, while Madison Angelito posted an 8-4 decision to extend Cumberlands lead to 12-1.  King won the next five matches with two pins and three tech falls to take a 23-12 advantage and clinch the match.  The Patriots continued to battle though as Naylor defeated Hailey Cancelleri in a 7-1 decision to cut the score to 24-15.  At the 191 lbs. class, Kirby pinned Nia Crosdale at the 1:08 mark for the 24-20 final.

Cumberlands would take advantage of five forfeits and one double forfeit to cruise to a 42-1 win over Nassau.  After taking an early 13-1 lead, eighth-ranked Ashley Ikner notched a 10-0 tech fall over Daisy Bravo.  Naylor and Kirby both added pins later in the match for the 42-1 final. 

UC had six wrestlers go undefeated on the day led by Rodriguez, Gordon, Naylor and Kirby who all finished 3-0.  Rigert and Angelito posted a 2-0 record on the day.

The Patriots will return to the mat Saturday, January 5, when they face fourth-seed Life in the consolation bracket.  The match is scheduled for 11 a.m. with live stats available here.

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