Williamsburg, KY – Patriots women's basketball took on IU-Southeast on Saturday afternoon, shooting an impressive 47% from the field to defeat the Grenadiers 72-54 at Randy Vernon Court. The win improves the Patriots 11-2, while the Grenadiers fall to 9-4 on the season. Junior forward Vilma Covane showed out once again, pacing the Patriots with a season-high 25 points, while grabbing ten rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.

Another key contributor for the Patritos was Abbi Douglas tallied 18 points and three rebounds on 6-13 shooting from the field while Hannah Lawson put up seven points. Reagan Begole led the Patriots in rebounds with nine.

UC opened the first quarter with a dynamic 6-0 run by way of buckets from Begole, Douglas and Carla Covane. At the 7:58 mark, the Grenadiers came out of a timeout firing five straight points to make it a one-point game with 5:00 minutes remaining. The Patriots would hold the Grenadiers to 2-7 from the field the remainder of the quarter, while seven points from Douglas led UC to close out the first period leading 21-12.

Senior Megan Morton splashed a three within the first thirty seconds of the second quarter, extending the Patriots lead to 12. With 7:17 to go, Hannah Lawson converted on a three-point play, sparking a 9-0 run that extended the Patriots lead to 33-15 with 5:13 to go. Douglas drained a pair of free throws followed by a jumper at the 3:14 mark to make it 39-20. Despite an 11-5 run from IU-Southeast in the final three minutes, the Patriots held on to a 44-31 lead at the break.

The Patriots would be held scoreless over the first 3:00 of the second half amid a 6-0 run by the Grenadiers that made it 44-37. After the next dead ball, Vilma Covane took control, scoring on three straight possessions to shift momentum back to UC. With 4:38 remaining, Jasmyne Stewart drained a mid-range jumper to cap an 8-4 run that gave the Patriots a 52-41 lead. IU-Southeast would manage just one free throw for the remainder of the period, while buckets from Silvia Veloso and Vilma Covane sent the Patriots into the fourth leading 56-43.

An 8-2 run from IU-Southeast opened the fourth period as two three pointers and a field goal brought the Grenadiers within seven. Field goals from Douglas and Covane recharged the Patriots offense, stretching UC's lead back to double figures making it 62-51 with 6:53 remaining. The Grenadiers would be held to just three points the remainder of the contest as the Patriots would go on to win 72-54.

The Patriots will return to action Monday, December 30, as they travel to Kentucky Wesleyan College for an exhibition matchup against the Panthers. Tipoff from Owensboro, KY is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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