West Palm Beach, FL – Destiny Haworth netted a season-high 24 points, however, it wasn't enough as the Patriots women's basketball team fell to St. Thomas 78-76 Monday afternoon at the West Palm Beach Classic. UC moves to 9-4 on the year.
Haworth converted 8-12 from the field, including 4-5 from three-point range in the game.
Kaylie Monday added 17 points and eight rebounds, while
Kassie Monday chipped in 13 points and seven assists.
Lakin Burke recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
St. Thomas jumped out to a 7-4 lead before
Destiny Haworth sank a pair from the charity stripe to pull with a point. The Bobcats utilized a 7-2 run to extend their lead, however,
Lakin Burke grabbed an offensive board and putback as part of six straight UC points to cut the deficit to 16-14 with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter. Haworth closed out the quarter with a layup to cut the deficit to 21-16.
The two teams traded baskets to open the second quarter as
Kassie Monday earned her third steal and found
Kaylie Monday in transition for a layup. That was Kassie's 400
th assist of her career and made it 23-20 with 7:43 remaining. The two teams traded baskets over the next three minutes until
Kaylie Monday grabbed an offensive rebound and drained a three-pointer to pull the Patriots within three at 30-27 midway through the second quarter.
Kassie Monday and Haworth combined for six points an assists over the next two minutes to cut the deficit to 36-35. In the closing minute of the quarter
Kaylie Monday and Haworth both hit from behind-the-arc, while Monday connected with Lewis in the post to complete an 8-0 run and give the Patriots a 43-41 lead at the break.
UC opened the third quarter with a three-pointer from Haworth to extend their lead to 46-41. After St. Thomas evened the score
Kassie Monday found Burke for a three-point play to put UC back in front 49-46 with 6:20 remaining. A couple minutes later, Haworth hit another three-pointer to put UC in front 53-49. The Bobcats went on a 5-0 run to close the quarter and take a 54-53 advantage.
Burke hit a jumper on the opening possession of the fourth quarter putting Cumberlands in front. After trading possessions Haworth hit from deep to make it 60-59 and spark an 8-0 Patriots run to make it 65-59 with 6:21 remaining.
Kaylie Monday added the Patriots next four points, before
Kassie Monday converted a layup to put them up 71-69 with 3:20 remaining. After four straight points from St. Thomas,
Kaylie Monday drove towards the basket and tied the score at 73-73.
LeeAnna McNulty sank a pair of free throws to put UC in front 75-73 with 1:12 remaining. St Thomas scored five straight points to hold on for the 78-76 final.
The Patriots will return to the court on Thursday, December 28, when they return home to host Union College. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.