Crestview Hills, KY – The UC women's basketball team returned to conference play with one of their toughest task of the season and while the Patriots battled it wasn't enough as they fell to third-ranked Thomas More 81-60 Tuesday night.  With the win the Saints improve to 10-1 overall and 6-0 in MSC play, while the Patriots move to 8-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Destiny Haworth led the way for UC with 16 points, two assists, and two steals, while Kassie Monday and Channing Lewis each added 11 points in the game.  Kaylie Monday dished out a team-high four assists in the game as the Patriots went 10-24 (41.7%) from behind-the-arc in the game.

Both teams opened the game strong as Reagan Begole kicked the ball out to Kaylie Monday on the wing for a three pointer to put UC in front 3-2.  On UC's next possession Kaylie Monday found Channing Lewis in the paint for a bucket to extend the lead to 5-2 just over two minutes into the first quarter.  Thomas More scored five straight points, however, Kassie Monday responded with a three to put Cumberlands back in front 8-7 midway through the quarter.  After the Saint scored eight unanswered, Haworth converted a layup before hitting from deep to cut the deficit to 17-13 with 1:14 remaining.  UC looked to cut into the deficit more in the final minute but the shot fell short as Thomas More took a 19-13 lead into the second.

The Patriots cut into the deficit to start the second quarter as Kassie Monday hit a pull-up jumper to bring UC within four at 19-15.  UC struggled to convert baskets as the Saints extended their lead to ten at 29-15 with 4:42 remaining. The Patriots responded as Haworth hit her second shot from deep as part of a 4-0 run. Thomas More closed out the first half on an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 37-20 at the break.

Both teams came out firing in the third quarter as Kaylie Monday drove and kicked out to Lewis from deep a minute in.  Just over a minute later, Lewis hit a layup as part of a 7-2 run by the Patriots cutting the deficit to 45-30 with 6:22 remaining.  Thomas More scored five straight, until Kassie Monday found Sydney Dalton on the low block for a layup making it 50-32 with 3:57 remaining.  From that point the Patriots started to heat up from outside as Kassie Monday, Abbey Estes, and Destiny Haworth all hit from behind the arc cutting the deficit to 61-43 at the end of the third quarter.

Thomas More scored to open the fourth quarter as UC cut into the deficit as Kassie Monday hit her third triple of the game for her seven double-digit game of the season.  Jaiden Cox added a pair of free throws for the Patriots, before Thomas More went on an 11-0 run, over a five minute span to push their lead to 75-48.  Cumberlands continued to battle as Shelby Moore and Cox combined for UC's next six points as the Patriots went on a 12-6 run to close out the game for the 81-60 final

The Patriots will return home Saturday, December 18, when they host conference rival Shawnee State.  Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. with live video available here and live stats available here.

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