McKenzie, TN – Cumberlands women's basketball took the lead with 4:23 remaining in the fourth quarter and used stifling defense to defeat Bethel 57-54 in a key Mid-South Conference game Thursday night at Crisp Arena.  With the win the Patriots improve to 19-10 overall and 13-8 in conference play, while the Wildcats move to 17-12 and 11-10 against the MSC.

Channing Lewis led the way for UC with her second consecutive double-double this time tallying 13 points and 13 rebounds in the win.  Abbi Douglas added 13 points and six rebounds, while Kassie Monday chipped in 12 points, four assists and a pair of steals.  Destiny Haworth added a couple of critical buckets to finish with eight points as Kaylie Monday grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists.

Cumberlands jumped out to the early lead off consecutive buckets from Abbi Douglas and Channing Lewis put UC ahead 6-0, three minutes into the game.  Cumberlands added six unanswered points, including a three from Kaylie Monday to extend their lead to 12-2 with 5:51 remaining.  Bethel battled back scoring eight of the final ten points of the first quarter to cut the lead to 14-10.

Bethel opened the second quarter to with a Ryann Roberts layup to pull within one possession, however Kassie Monday drained a three-pointer to give UC a 17-12 advantage.  Cumberlands continued to answer the Wildcats scoring as Destiny Haworth added a layup and Shelby Moore converted a free throw to make it 20-16 midway through the period.  A Jenna Foust triple give the Wildcats their first lead of the game, before Lillie Hall sank a jumper to even the score with 3:40 remaining.  The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes as Bethel took a 29-27 lead into the break.

The Wildcats added four straight points to open the second half to take a 33-27 lead, their largest of the game.  Cumberlands responded as Douglas sank a pair from the charity stripe while Lewis netted six straight points putting UC in front 35-33 with 7:26 left.  There were five lead changes and a pair of ties over the next five minutes as Bethel took a four-point lead 44-40 with 2:28 left.  UC hit a pair of free throws over the closing minutes to cut the deficit to 45-42 heading into the fourth quarter.

Douglas and Kassie Monday combined for the Patriots first eight points of the final quarter to even the score at 50-50 with 7:25 left.  Two minutes later Douglas converted the equalizer as Lewis put Cumberlands back in front 54-52 with a layup off an assist from Kassie Monday.  The two teams traded free throw attempts as Lewis forced a steal and on the ensuing Patriot possession Haworth converted a layup at the 1:12 mark to give UC a 57-54 lead.  The Patriots defense clamped down and contested every shot as Bethel couldn't pull closer for the 57-54 final.

The Patriots outrebounded the Wildcats 35-29 and grabbed eight offensive rebounds in the win. 

Cumberlands will close out the regular season on Saturday, February 19, when they travel to face Freed-Hardeman.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. with live stats available here and live video available here.

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