Pikeville, KY – As the UC Women's Basketball hit the floor today in Pikeville at the APW Classic, they knew they had a pair of objectives they wanted to meet and knew it took one thing to meet all of those, a win over Florida National University. The ladies went to work early and never looked back, garnering an 88-62 win over the Conquistadors. The win kept the Patriots unbeaten to move to 3-0 on the season, but also gave Head Coach Rick Reeves his 500th career victory as a coach.
UC entered the first quarter and looked very sharp early, opening up a sizable lead while making it count from the free throw line, going 14-16 from the stripe in the first ten minutes of play. Cumberlands would lead 27-11 after the first but then the offense went a bit quiet. Outscored by six in the frame, the Patriots lead would drop to ten at 40-30 at the break.
In the second half though, it was all Patriots. Going 11-14 from the free throw line the rest of the way through helped, but so did shooting over 50% from the field in the final 20 minutes of action. With a 64-47 lead after three, UC would pull away in the fourth quarter for the 88-62 win over the Conquistadors.
UC had four ladies in double figures led by Silvia Veloso with 17 points and three steals. Reagon Begole added 16 points and six rebounds while Vilma Covane chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds. Kayla Bruner pitched in 10 points off the bench to go with three assists. UC would outrebound FNU 46-27 while scoring 48 points in the paint, 25 points off turnovers, and getting 24 points off their bench.
FNU's Adria Stewart led her team with 17 points and three rebounds.
"I feel very fortunate to work at the universities I have in my career as well as all the players that I have had the pleasure to coach," said Coach Reeves when asked about picking up his 500th victory. "I have a wonderful family. I am truly a blessed man and I give God all the glory."
UC returns to action on Saturday morning as they will take on Wilberforce University with tip-off scheduled for 10 am.
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