Williamsburg, KY – The (RV) Patriots women's basketball team held strong against a fierce fourth quarter rally to defeat Cumberland 75-71 Thursday night on Randy Vernon Court. With the win, UC improves to 16-10 overall and 10-8 in MSC play, while the Phoenix move to 10-14 overall and 5-12 in conference play.
Destiny Haworth led the way for Cumberlands with a game-high 22 points, including four three-pointers, to go along with four steals.
Kaylie Monday tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while
Kassie Monday chipped in eight points five rebounds and five assists.
Sydney Dalton provided the spark of the bench chipping in 13 points as
Channing Lewis and
Shelby Moore grabbed eight boards apiece.
The two teams opened the game trading triples, before a jumper by Lewis and a three-pointer by Haworth put Cumberlands in front 8-3, two minutes into the first quarter. UC utilized a 7-3 run that was capped off by a Lewis layup to extend their lead to 15-8 midway through the opening period. The Patriots continued their strong play scoring the final six points of quarter off layups from Moore and
Kaylie Monday and a pair of
Casey Coleman free throws to take a 21-9 advantage.
The Phoenix battled back in the second quarter using an 8-2 run over the first four minutes to cut the lead to 23-17. UC responded as
Kaylie Monday found
Abbi Douglas in the paint for a layup, before the Phoenix seven straight points to cut the deficit to 25-24 with 4:11 remaining. Dalton netted seven of the Patriots next nine points, including a three-point play in closing seconds of the half to extend Cumberlands advantage to 34-26 at the break.
Haworth strong performance led the Patriots in the third quarter as she scored five straight as part of a 9-2 run giving the Patriots a 43-28 edge with 7:27 remaining. Just over a minute later, Haworth hit from long range putting UC in front 48-32, their largest lead of the game. The Phoenix went on an 8-2 run to bring them within ten, however,
Kaylie Monday found
Kassie Monday in the corner for a triple to extend the lead back to 53-40 with 4:22 left. Later in the quarter Douglas forced a steal, and
Kaylie Monday drained a three-pointer as Patriots took a 57-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
Douglas opened the fourth quarter grabbing an offensive rebounds and converting a three-point player to make it 60-44 with 9:18 remaining. The Phoenix started to rally with a 10-2 run, including five from the charity stripe to pull within eight at 62-54 with 4:33 left. Needing a bucket UC turned to Haworth, who drained her fourth triple of the game, off an assist from
Kassie Monday to push the lead back to double-digits. UC scored three of the next five points to take a 68-56 lead with 3:01 remaining. Cumberland continued to battle back scoring nine of the next ten points, capped off by an Alaina Rongos three, cutting the lead to 69-65 with 35 seconds left. The Patriots went a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe in the closing seconds securing the 75-71 final.
The Patriots finished with 30 points in the paint, 12 second chance points, and 21 points from the bench which were key in the victory.
Cumberlands will return to the court Saturday, February 12, when they host Lindsey Wilson. UC will honor their two seniors prior to start of the game with tip-off set for 2 p.m.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter - @UC_Patriots, Instagram - @UCPatriots, YouTube – Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
