Lebanon, TN – The #15 UC women's basketball team scored 56 first half points to defeat Cumberland 97-55 Thursday night.  With the win, the Patriots improve to 19-8 overall and 7-4 in conference play. 

Kaylie Monday led the way with a team-high 17 point, nine rebounds, five assists, and five steals.  With her five steals, Monday is now tied for third for steals in season with 87.  Destiny Haworth netted 16 point, including a trio of three-pointers, while Jaiden Cox chipped in 13 points.  Lakin Burke and Channing Lewis combined for 21 points and seven rebounds, while Kassie Monday notched seven points and seven assists. Joy Kendrick chipped in eight points and five assists.

Kassie Monday found Lakin Burke with a bounce pass for a layup before Burke connected with Destiny Haworth for a jumper to make it 4-2.  Burke added the next five Patriots points as UC extended their lead to 9-4, three minutes into the first quarter.  Cumberlands went on a 13-0 run over the next several minutes as Haworth and Kassie Monday combined for a trio of three-pointers extending the lead to 22-4 midway through the first quarter.  Kaylie Monday tallied her third steal of the first quarter to move into fourth all-time for a season with 85 steals, while her jumper at the 2:33 mark extended UC's lead to 28-7.  The Patriots extended their lead to 30-11 after the first quarter.

The two teams traded baskets to open the second quarter until Burke notched a steal and on the ensuing transition Kassie Monday found Joy Kendrick for a layup extending the lead to 35-16.  Kendrick added a three-point play before finding Monday for a layup to make it 42-18 midway through the period.  Kaylie Monday added a three-pointer before grabbing a rebound and putback extending the lead to 47-22 with 2:55 remaining.  Cumberlands added a trio of three-pointers from Jaiden Cox and Kendrick as the Patriots took a 56-28 lead into the break.

UC opened the second half with Kassie Monday finding Channing Lewis for a layup to make it 58-28.  Kaylie Monday added a steal and layup before she found Lewis on the wing for a three-pointer to make it 63-32, two minutes into the quarter. Victory Fredricks added a pair of putbacks to make it 69-36 midway through the third.  Lewis sank her second three-pointer before connecting with Haworth from deep to make it 75-36 with 3:24 remaining.  Both teams traded baskets in the closing minutes as UC took a 79-38 lead into the fourth quarter.

Cumberland scored the first five points of the fourth quarter, before the Patriots responded with six unanswered points capped off with a three from Cox to make it 85-43.  The junior drained her fourth three-pointer a couple minutes later to give her 13 for the game.  Kylie Fultz and Kaedlee Potter each added a jumper as UC extended their lead to 94-55.  Amy Thompson added a three-point play in the closing minute for the 97-55 final.

UC finished the game shooting 50% from the field and out-rebounding the Phoenix 45-36. 

The Patriots will return home Saturday, February 24, when they host Bethel in their regular season finale.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. with live video available here.

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