Bowling Green, KY – Channing Lewis tallied a double-double as the #21 Patriots women's basketball team erased a 15-point first half deficit but it wasn't enough as they fell to fifth-seed and (RV) Freed-Hardeman 65-61 in the quarterfinals of the MSC tournament.  The Patriots move to 22-7 overall on the season.

Lewis tied her career-high with 14 rebounds to go along with 17 points for her sixth double-double of the season.  Kaylie Monday added 14 points, 12 of which came in the third quarter, five rebounds and two steals in the game, while Lakin Burke went 5-5 from the floor to finish with ten points. Kassie Monday dished out six assists in the game to move into second all-time for assists in a season with 177. 

The Patriots strike first as Victory Fredricks grabs an offensive board and putback on their first offensive possession to make it 2-0.  Freed-Hardman went on an 8-2 run to take the lead, 8-4, three minutes into the first quarter.  After the traded points, Kassie Monday found Destiny Haworth for a banked jumper to cut the deficit to 10-8 midway through the period.  Monday converts a three-point play to put UC back in front 11-10 with 4:13 remaining. The lead change three times as Monday finds Lakin Burke for layup to cut the deficit to 18-15 after the first quarter.

Freed-Hardeman opened the second quarter on an 8-2 run, before Amerah Steele hits a jumper to cut the deficit to 26-19 with 2:54 remaining.   The Lions scored eight unanswered points before Channing Lewis drained a pair of three-pointers and added four from the charity stripe to help the Patriots close out on a 10-0 run and cut the deficit to 34-29 at the break.  Lewis closes out the first half with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Kassie Monday has dished out five assists over the first 20 minutes of play.

Kaylie Monday started the Patriots scoring in the second half, before Lewis grabs two offensive boards and add a pair of free throws to complete the double-double and pull UC within three at 36-33.  Burke found Monday on a backdoor cut to pull UC within a point at 36-35, three minutes into the quarter.  Cumberlands added four from the charity stripe to pout UC in front 41-39 with 4:41 remaining in the third.  The two teams traded the lead multiple times before Whitney Caldwell converted a layup to put UC in front 47-46 with 2:21 left.  Kaylie Monday added a layup as the Patriots took a 49-48 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Freed-Hardeman netted four unanswered points to start the fourth quarter to take a 52-49 lead three minutes in.  The Patriots respond as Kassie Monday finds Haworth on the wing for a three pointer to even the score at 52-52.  Both teams traded possession before Lewis found Burke on the block for a turnaround jumper to put UC in front 54-52 with 4:26 remaining.  KJ White added four straight points to put the Lions in front, however Burke responded with a layup to even the score at 56-56 with 2:16 left.  Freed-Hardeman scored five unanswered points, before Lewis converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to 61-59 with 42 seconds left.  Freed-Hardeman converted free throws down the stretch for the 65-61 final.

The Patriots will now await the NAIA announcement for the national tournament to see where they will play.  That announcement is scheduled to be released on Thursday, March 2.

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