Lebanon, TN – As the regular season would come to an end today, the Patriot Women's Basketball team was looking to end it on a high note as they enter postseason play next week at the Mid-South Conference Tournament. The last stop would be in Lebanon, Tennessee on Saturday against the Phoenix of Cumberland University. After carrying an 11 point lead into the half, a rough third quarter would give CU the ability to climb back into the game and earn a 64-61 win over the Patriots as UC closes the regular season at 14-16 overall and 1-13 in MSC play.

Three lead changes and four ties would occur in the first quarter as UC would hold a slight edge over the Phoenix with the score 10-9. With the score tied at 12 with eight minutes to play in the first half, UC would go on an 11-2 run over the next three and a half minutes hold a nine point lead. The gap would grow to 14 late in the quarter, but a late surge from the Phoenix would cut the lead to 11 at the break at 32-21.

Midway through the third quarter, the lead was still at seven for the Patriots at 37-30, but a 13-5 run to close out the period would give the Phoenix the lead at 43-42. Although UC would get the game back to a tie score twice during the final ten minutes of play, they could never completely overcome the offensive surge of the Phoenix as Cumberland University would finish out their late rally to earn a three point win over the Patriots.  

Four Patriots would tally double figures in the game led by Shayla Simpson with 13 points along with five rebounds. The duo of Jasmine Rhodes and Kayla Bruner each chipped in 12 points with a combined ten rebounds, five rebounds, and six steals in the game. Hannah Lawson added 11 points to go with four rebounds and four assists.  

UC shot 36.6% from the floor in the contest and 38.5% from beyond the arc, but only 4-13 (30.8%) from the charity stripe in the loss. The Phoenix would take advantage of a plethora of free throws in the contest, especially in the second half. They shot just under 36% from the field and just over 23% from three, but would shoot 79.5% from the free throw line, including 24-30 in the second half.

Cumberlands receives the #8 seed in the Mid-South Conference Tournament which begins on Friday, March 1^st as they will take on top-seeded Campbellsville University at 10 am at the East KY Expo Center in Pikeville, Kentucky.

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