Williamsburg, KY – Carla Covane and Silva Veloso both tallied a double-double as the (RV) Patriots knocked off #12 Shawnee State 70-63 Saturday afternoon on Randy Vernon Court.  The win is UC's first win over the Bears since January 30, 2014 as the Patriots improve to 16-5 overall and 10-5 in conference play.

C. Covane lead the way for UC with 22 points, including going 12-14 from the charity stripe, while grabbing ten rebounds.  Veloso added 13 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Abbi Douglas chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.  

The Patriots came out strong as Abbi Douglas sank a field goal to put UC in front early.  Carla Covane hit a pair of a free throws to put the Patriots ahead 4-2 before Shawnee State went on an 11-0 run to take a 13-4 lead midway through the first quarter.  UC battled back with Silvia Veloso leading the charge converting on a pair of field goals to cut the deficit to 15-10 with 3:33 left.  Reagan Begole added a jumper to cut the deficit to 15-12 after the opening quarter.

The evenly contested contest continued in the second quarter as Begole connected with Channing Lewis on the opening possession to bring UC within one at 15-14.  UC evened the score at 16-16 before the Bears scored 11 unanswered points, over a three minute span, to give Shawnee State a 27-16 lead with 5:04.  Carla Covane scored the next six points to cut the deficit to 27-21.  The Patriots sank four more free throws before Douglas found C. Covane in the paint for a bucket to cut the deficit to 33-38 at the break.

Vilma Covane jumped consecutive baskets to make the score 36-32 in favored of Shawnee State.  Two minutes later, Douglas hit from long range to keep cut the deficit to 40-35 with 6:47 remaining.  The two teams traded buckets over the next several minutes until the Patriots went on an 8-0 run, which included six points from C. Covane, to take a 45-43 lead.  That was Cumberlands first lead of the game, as Bethany Mackin added a basket to tie the game at 45-45 heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter opened with Channing Lewis finding V. Covane in the post to put Cumberlands back in front 47-45.  Shawne State went on a 6-1 run, however, UC responded with four straight points by Lewis to retake the lead at 52-51 with 6:06 remaining.  The teams traded baskets, before Veloso connected with Addison Wilson from behind-the-arc to extend Cumberlands lead to 57-53 midway through the fourth quarter.  Shawnee State responded tying the score at 59-59 with 3:00 left, before Douglas pulled up for a jumper from the foul line and Wilson drained her second three of the quarter to put the Patriots in front 64-59 with 1:16 remaining.  Veloso and Lewis combined for UC's final six points of the game for the 70-63 final. 

For C. Covane it was her second double-double of the season, while Veloso now has a team-high four double-doubles on the year.

The Patriots will return to the court Thursday, February 11, when they host #16 Lindsey Wilson.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. with live stats available here and live video available here.

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