Williamsburg, KY – The (RV) UC women's basketball team limited Bethel to eight fourth-quarter points as the Patriots rallied for a 63-59 win Saturday afternoon on Randy Vernon Court.  The win is Cumberlands sixth straight victory and improves the record to 14-3 overall and 8-3 in conference play.

Kassie Monday led the way with 15 points, seven assists and a season-high seven rebounds, while Lakin Burke chipped in 11 points, six boards, two assists and a season-high three steals.  Destiny Haworth tied her career-high with seven rebounds to go along with nine points and three assists, as Kaylie Monday grabbed seven boards and made a team-high four steals in the win.

Bethel jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, however, Cumberlands responded as Channing Lewis kicked it out to Kassie Monday for a three pointer to even the score.  Monday was involved in the Patriots first 15 points of the game with 11 points and two assists putting UC in front 15-8 with 2:30 remaining.  Lewis earned her second assist as she found Amerah Steele for a jumped giving the Patriots a 17-14 advantage after the opening quarter.

The Wildcats evened the score before Burke found Brittni Allison cutting down the lane for a three-point play a minute into the second quarter.  That spark seven unanswered points from UC, including three from Burke to give Cumberlands a 24-17 lead with 7:06 remaining.  Bethel went on an 8-3 run to pull within two before Kassie Monday found Kaedlee Potter in the post for a bucket pushing the lead 29-24 midway through the period.  Allison and Steele combined for five Patriot points before Bethel scored eight unanswered to take a 35-34 lead.  In the closing seconds of the half Jaiden Cox sank a pair from the charity stripe to put the Patriots in front 36-35 at the break.

Cumberlands opened the third quarter strong with a triple from Haworth and Burke converting a three-point play to make it 42-35 with 8:19 left.  The Wildcats scored eight unanswered points over a four-minute span to take a 43-42 lead.  UC retook the lead on Burke's second three-point play of the quarter.  The game was tied twice as Bethel tallied the final six points of the period to take a 51-48 lead into the fourth.

The two teams traded baskets to open the fourth quarter before Steele drained a three-pointer to even the score at 53-53 with 8:36 left. The game was tied once more before Haworth drained a 15-foot jump shot and Lewis converted a pair of free throws to put the Patriots in front 59-55 with 1:58 remaining.  The Wildcats pulled within a point a 59-58 with 46 seconds left, however, Kassie Monday notched a steal and sank a pair of free throws to push the lead to 61-58 with 14.6 seconds remaining.  Cumberlands defense continued to hound the Wildcats as Burke grabbed the defensive board and made both free throws for the 63-59 final. 

The Patriots out-rebounded Bethel 38-30 in the game with 10 offensive boards, while dishing out 16 assists.  UC is limiting opponents to 59.8 points per game on the six game win streak.

UC will return to the court Thursday, January 12, when they travel to Portsmouth, Oh to face Shawnee State.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. with live video available here.

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