Bowling Green, KY – The (RV) Cumberlands women's basketball took a lead, however, a run late in the third quarter proved to be the difference as the third-seed Patriots defeated sixth-seed Pikeville 71-63 Friday night at Bowling Green High School.  With the win, UC advances to the MSC semifinals on Sunday and improves their record to 20-11.

Kassie Monday, the MSC Freshman of the Year, led the way for Cumberlands with a game-high 24 points and five assists.  Channing Lewis added 13 points, three steals and three boards, while Destiny Haworth finished with 12 points and four rebounds.  Lillie Hall grabbed a team-high five rebounds in the win.  

Patriots opened the game with Channing Lewis grabbing an offensive rebound and converting a three-point play to put UC in front.  Abbi Douglas and Destiny Haworth converted three straight layup for the Patriots to put UC ahead 9-3, three minutes into the first quarter.  The Patriots went on an 11-5 run, including five straight from Kassie Monday, to extend their lead to 20-8 with 3:06 remaining.  Kassie Monday hit from the top of the key, while Lewis converted her second three-point play of the quarter to make give Cumberlands a 26-13 lead after the first quarter.

Pikeville went on a 4-1 run over the first four minutes of the second quarter as the Patriots still lead 27-17.  The Bears cut the lead down to four, before Casey Coleman added a layup to give UC a 29-23 edge with 3:00 minutes left.  Kassie Monday sank a pair from the charity stripe in the closing seconds as Cumberlands took a 31-30 edge into the break.

Pikeville utilized a 7-2 run to open the second half, however, Douglas stole a pass and began a transition which Kaylie Monday laid it in.  Kassie Monday added a pair from the charity stripe to even the score at 37-37 with 7:21 remaining.  The game was tied two more times over the next several minutes, before Douglas added a pair of free throws to put UC ahead 43-41 with 4:30 remaining.  The game was tied twice more, before Kassie Monday and Lewis added consecutive layups putting the Patriots back in front 49-45 with 2:44 left.  UC closed out the quarter on a 7-2 lead, including Kaylie Monday draining a triple at the buzzer to make it 56-49.

Lewis continued her strong play making a couple from the charity stripe before connecting with Douglas driving to make it 60-51 a minute into the fourth quarter.  A minute later, Kassie Monday found Haworth for a three to extends UC's lead to 63-51, their largest lead since the start of the second quarter.  The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes as Monday converted a layup at the 4:54 mark to give UC a 67-57 edge.  After trading points, Douglas grabbed an offensive board and putback to give UC an 71-59 lead with 1:49 remaining.  Pikeville added the final four points for the 71-63 final. 

It marks the first time since the 2016-17 season that Cumberlands has advanced to the semifinals of the MSC Tournament.  The Patriots shot 42.4% from the field and 77.3% from the charity stripe in the win.

UC will face second-seed and fifth-ranked Campbellsville in the semifinals.  Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. EST with live video available here.
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