Georgetown, KY – A trip to take on the Tigers of Georgetown is what stood between UC's Women's Basketball team from starting the Mid-South Conference season off 2-0. A big win on Tuesday night over then #21 Thomas More gave the Patriots a huge momentum boost heading into Thursday night's contest. However, 32 turnovers coupled with 31 fouls in the game, which sent four players to the bench fouled out, and one late free throw with under three seconds to play gave the Patriots their first conference loss by a score of 79-78 in double overtime. The loss sends UC to a 9-2 overall mark and 1-1 in MSC play.
The Patriots and Tigers would see three ties in the first quarter alone before a late three by the Tigers would give them a 14-13 edge entering the second quarter. Seven lead changes in the second quarter would prove this was going to be a fight to the end. UC shot 55% from the field in the first half, but 14 turnovers would allow Georgetown to hang around as the Patriots led 28-26 at the break.
In the third, UC began the quarter on a 7-0 run and built up a nine-point lead at the media timeout at 41-32. In the final five minutes of the frame though, Georgetown would outscore UC 8-4 to cut the lead to five at 45-40 with ten minutes to play. The Tigers would have their most prolific quarter of the contest here, starting the quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 48-47 lead with just under seven to play. GC jumped out to a seven-point lead at 58-51 with three minutes left, but UC would not go away quietly. Seven points from Hannah Lawson late in the game coupled with some good free throw shooting from Vilma Covane and Megan Morton would send the game to overtime tied at 64.
Here is where turnovers and fouls would begin to plague the Patriots. Tied at 68-68 with three minutes to play, UC would put six points on the board with Vilma Covane scoring four of those to GC's one point gave the Patriots a 74-69 lead with a minute to go. A big three and a clutch basket late would tie the game once again sending the game to double overtime tied at 74.
UC would go just 2-5 from the field in the second overtime with three turnovers and three fouls. The final foul would spell the demise to the Patriots as it would send the Tigers' Kennedy Flynn to the line and the game tied at 78 with 2.9 seconds to play. She would go 1-2 from the stripe as UC would not get a shot off, sending the Tigers to victory 79-78.
Vilma Covane notched her third double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Her sister Carla Covane also inked her second double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds but was one of four Patriots to foul out in the contest. Hannah Lawson added 18 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Reagan Begole chipped in 11 points and three boards in her shortened night due to fouling out.
UC would outrebound the Tigers 49-36 but committed 32 turnovers and 31 fouls. The Tigers were led by Madison Darnell with 19 points and four rebounds.
Cumberlands returns home on Saturday, December 7th as they will host the Royals of Johnson University for a contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 PM in the O. Wayne Rollins Center.
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