Bowling Green, KY -
Kassie Monday tallied a career-high 29 points as the third-seed Patriots fell to the second-seed and fifth-ranked Campbellsville 85-71 in the semifinals of the MSC Tournament Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green High School. The Patriots led for majority of the first half, however, a late run by the Tigers proved to be the difference in the game as UC moves to 20-12 on the season.
Monday converted four three-pointers, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists as part of her career-day. The Clarkrange, TN native closed out the tournament averaging 26.5 points and 5.0 assists over the two games.
Abbi Douglas added nine points, while
Kaylie Monday chipped in seven points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Destiny Haworth and Shelby Morore finished with six points apiece.
The Patriots take an early lead with seven unanswered points sparked by a
Kassie Monday who dished out a pair of assists to Haworth and Douglas while adding a layup to take a 7-2 lead two minutes into the first quarter. Campbellsville responded with an 8-2 run to even the score at 10-10, however, Douglas added a short jumper to put UC back in front 12-10 midway through the opening quarter. The game has been tied three times over the next three minutes before
Sydney Dalton hit a jumper to give UC an 18-16 edge with 2:50 left.
Kassie Monday and Douglas combined for the Patriots final five points of the quarter to give Cumberlands a 23-17 lead after the first quarter.
Kassie Monday backdown a defender and laid it up to extend Cumberlands lead to 25-17 just over a minute into the second quarter. The Tigers cut the lead to 25-22, however the Patriots responded with a layup from
Channing Lewis coupled with a triple from Haworth gives UC a 30-22 advantage with 6:19 left. Campbellsville went on a 6-0 run, however, the
Kassie Monday added four from the charity stripe coupled with a layup to push the Patriots lead to 36-30 with 1:34 remaining. Campbellsville scored the final six points of the half to even the score at 36-36 heading into the break.
The two teams traded baskets in the opening minute of the third quarter before the Patriots went on a 10-3 run, including five from
Kassie Monday to put UC in front 48-43 with 5:54 left. Two minutes later,
Shelby Moore converted a reverse layup off an assist from Haworth to make it 50-45. Campbellsville went on a 13-4 run to close out the quarter and take a 58-54 lead into the fourth.
Cumberlands scored four of the first six points of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 60-58 two minutes in. The Tigers scored six unanswered points, over a three minute stretch to extend their lead to 66-58 with 6:04 remaining.
Kassie Monday scored UC's next five points to cut the deficit to 68-63 midway through the fourth quarter. The Tigers netted eight unanswered points to extend their lead to 75-63 with 3:07 left. Cumberlands continued to battle till the final buzzer getting points from Lewis,
Lillie Hall, and
Kaylie Monday for the 85-71 final.
The Patriots will now await the NAIA selection show, which will take place Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. EST. Fans can watch the selection show live
here.
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