Lakeland, FL –  The eighth-seed UC women's basketball team overcame an early 12 point deficit to tie the game twice in the fourth quarter, however, fell to ninth-seed Rust 76-74 Friday afternoon at the Furnace.  The Patriots close out the season with a 20-13 record, while the Bearcats improve to 26-3.

Channing Lewis led the way for UC with 19 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, while Kassie Monday added 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.  Abbi Douglas chipped in 13 points and four rebounds, while Kaylie Monday added 11 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.

Cumberlands struggled to find to get into an offensive rhythm as Rust jumped out to a 12-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.  UC got on the board as Kassie Monday grabbed a defensive rebound and found Shelby Moore in transition for a bucket   Kaylie Monday and Kassie Monday each added a layup as the Bearcats took a 21-6 lead after the opening quarter. 

The Patriots battled back in the second as Kaylie Monday, Kassie Monday, and Douglas each tallied a bucket to cut the deficit to 23-11, two minutes into the quarter.  Lewis added four straight Cumberlands points as Douglas hit a ten-foot jumper to cut the deficit to 27-18 midway through the second period.  Two minutes later, Haworth drained a three-pointer to bring UC within six at 29-23  with 3:48 remaining.  Cumberlands went 5-6 from the charity stripe, before Kassie Monday forced a turnover and laid it up as the Patriots went into the break trailing 34-30.

Rust netted six unanswered points to open the third quarter before Douglas made a layup to cut it to 40-32 with 7:27 left. Kassie Monday and Haworth combined for the next seven Cumberlands points as UC pulled within five at 44-39.  Rust went on a 9-3 run over the next two minutes, however, the Patriots scored the final five points of the quarter, including a three-point play by Kassie Monday to make 53-47 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Bearcats extended their lead back to eight points, just over a minute into the fourth quarter, however, Haworth led the Patriot response with a pull-up jumper in the paint.  Douglas added five straight points to bring UC within a point at 57-56 with 6:42 left.  Rust went on an 11-2 run to take a 68-58 lead with 3:13 remaining, before Lewis drained a three-pointer at the 3:06 mark making it 68-61.  The two teams traded free throws before a Lewis three-pointer coupled with a pair of Lillie Hall free throws brought Cumberlands within a point at 70-69 with 1:04 left.  Rust added a jumper, before the Patriots found Lewis at the top of the key for the game-tying three with 46.2 seconds left.  Rust retook the lead on a layup, however, Kaylie Monday sank a pair from the charity stripe with 15 seconds left to even the score.  Rust's Shay Johnson made a layup with six seconds left to retake the lead 76-74.  Cumberlands had a chance for the win, but the shot was off the mark for the 76-74 final.

Cumberlands converted 91.7% of its free throws in the game, going 22-24 from the charity stripe. 

The Patriots close out the season with its first 20-win season in a decade and it's second consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament.

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