Williamsburg, KY – Abbi Douglas and Kaylie Monday combined for 48 points to lead the Patriots women's basketball team an 87-79 win over top-ranked Thomas More Saturday afternoon on Randy Vernon Court. This marks Cumberlands first win over a team that was ranked #1 in the NAIA poll.

"I'm so proud of this team and it was an awesome team victory," said Head Coach Rick Reeves.  "They stuck with the game plan and I don't think I've been prouder of another win in my whole career."

Douglas went a perfect 10-10 en route to a new career-high of 26 points for the sophomore as she grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists and made three steals.  Kaylie Monday added a career-high 22 points, including going 5-6 from long range, to go along with five rebounds and three steals.  Kassie Monday added 14 points and a team-high four assists, while Channing Lewis notched eight points and eight rebounds.

Kassie Monday got the scoring started with a layup as the two teams traded buckets over the opening three minutes.  The Patriots extended their lead to 10-5 as Douglas dished out to Haworth for a three-pointer with 6:42 remaining.  The Saints cut the lead to one possession before UC scored five unanswered as Haworth drained her second triple of the quarter giving Cumberlands 15-8 edge midway through the first quarter.  Over the next several minutes the teams traded points until Douglas converted a layup to put the Patriots in front 21-18 after the opening quarter. 

Cumberlands defense held Thomas More in check as Douglas forced a Saints turnover and scored the transition layup to extend the lead to 23-18 just over a minute into the second quarter.  The Patriots continued to attack on the offensive side of the court as Kaylie Monday hit from long range, as Lewis grabbed an offensive board and tip in to put the Patriots in front 30-22 with 6:24 remaining.  Thomas More went on an 11-1 run to take a 33-31 lead before Kaylie Monday drilled a triple to put Cumberlands back in front, 34-33 with 3:46 remaining.  Each team added went on a run to close out the first half as UC scored the final seven points to take a 42-40 edge at the break. 

Thomas More opened the second half on 8-2 run to take a 48-44 lead with 7:23 left.   Cumberlands responded with ten unanswered points capped off by a Douglas steal and layup giving the Patriots a 54-48 lead with 5:37 left in the third quarter.  Every time Thomas More cut the lead to one possession UC responded with a bucket of their own with layups from Haworth, Douglas, and Kassie Monday extended Cumberlands lead to 60-54 with 1:21 remaining.  Lewis added a pair of free throws in the closing seconds of the quarter giving the Patriots a 62-56 edge heading into the fourth quarter.

Kassie Monday gave Cumberlands their largest lead of the game early in the fourth quarter tallying a steal, an assist, and a pair of layup to make it 68-58, at the 7:29 mark.  The Patriots didn't let off the gas as they went on 6-2 run to push the lead to 74-59 with 4:12 remaining.  Thomas More fought back hitting five three pointers over a two minute span to cut the lead to 77-73 with 2:01 remaining.  UC held strong converting a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe over the final two minutes for the 87-79 final.

Cumberlands shot 92.6% (25-27) from the free throw line, while shooting 46.6% from the field.  The Patriots recorded a season-low nine turnovers in the win. 

The Patriots will return to the court Monday, when they host Pikeville.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. in the Rollins Center.

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