Dayton, TN – The Patriots women's basketball team struggled from the field as they fell to Bryan 81-71 Tuesday night. 

Amerah Steele led the way with her first double-double of the season recording 16 points to go with a career-high 11 rebounds.  It was her first double-double as a Patriot.  Destiny Haworth drained four from behind-the-arc to notch 16 points, while Kaylie Monday tallied 12 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.  Channing Lewis grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in the game.

Just over a minute into the game, Kaylie Monday found Destiny Haworth on the win for a three-pointer to make it 3-3.  The two teams traded baskets before Monday grabbed an offensive rebound and putback to even the score at 7-7.  LeeAnna McNulty netted four points over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to 14-13 with 3:56 remaining.  The Lions went on a 6-2 run over the next couple minutes to extend their lead to 20-15 before Haworth hit her second from behind-the-arc to pull within two.  Bryan closed out the quarter with five unanswered points to take a 25-18 advantage.

Amerah Steele scored five of UC's first six points in the second quarter before Kaylie Monday hit from long range to cut the deficit to 31-27 with 7:51 remaining.  Bryan netted 12 unanswered points, before Victory Fredricks and Channing Lewis added back-to-back layup to make it 43-31 with 2:56 left in the first half.  Haworth netted seven straight points before Amy Thompson connected with Kaylie Monday for a three to pull Cumberlands within three-points at 45-42.

Bryan opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run, before Steele drained a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 52-45 midway through the third quarter.  Kaylie Monday notched an assist and a layup over the next two minutes as UC pulled within three points.  The two teams traded baskets down the stretch of the third quarter until Steele found Haworth for a three-pointer as the Lions took a 61-56 edge into the fourth quarter.

The Lions went on a 12-3 run over the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.  Kassie Monday added a layup before Steele notched a bucket and an assist with 1:30 remaining.  The Patriots couldn't chipped away at the lead as Steele tallied a bucket in the closing seconds for the 81-71 final.

Cumberlands returns to the court Sunday, December 17, when they travel to West Palm Beach, FL to face Keiser. Tip-off is set to 11 a.m.

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