Williamsburg, KY – The #16 Patriots women's basketball team utilized an 18-0 run that spanned five minutes in the first half to take down #9 Bethel 79-71 Saturday afternoon on Randy Vernon Court.  The win is Cumberlands second straight win over a NAIA top-10 opponent as they improve to 16-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

Lakin Burke led the way for UC with 21 points and seven rebounds.  Joy Kendrick added 18 points, on 5-7 from the field, with four assists, while Kassie Monday notched 12 points, nine assists, and five rebounds.  Kaylie Monday chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Zaram Fredricks grabbed five rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks.

Kaylie Monday sank a pull-up jumper to put Cumberlands in front early.  Bethel hit a pair of three-pointers as part of a 10-2 run before Monday found Anaia Hoard cutting to the basket for a layup making it 10-6 midway through the first quarter.  Kassie Monday added a three-pointer, while Burke hit a layup pulling Cumberlands within three at 14-11 with 3:32 remaining.  UC had back-to-back assists from Kassie Monday to Burke and LeeAnna McNulty putting the Patriots in front 20-19 after the first quarter.

Joy Kendrick converted a three-point play before finding Burke in the post for a three-point play as part of an 8-0 run extending the lead to 28-19. Kaylie Monday scored four straight points and grabbed her fifth rebound of the day to make it 32-21 with 6:16 remaining in the first half.  Bethel pulled within five before McNulty grabbed an offensive board and putback to extend the lead to 34-27 with 3:35 left. Kassie Monday connected with Burke for a layup before adding one of her own giving UC a 40-36 lead at half.

The Patriots opened the third quarter with Kassie Monday finding Joy Kendrick on the win for a three-pointer making it 43-34.  Kendrick sank her second three-pointer of the quarter, off an assist from Kaylie Monday to make it 48-37, three minutes into the period.  Bethel went on a 12-4 run, over the next four minutes before Kassie Monday found Burke on the post for a layup giving the Patriots a 54-49 advantage. 

Kassie Monday hit a layup and tallied an assists before Kendrick found Anaia Hoard for jumper making it 63-56 with 7:30 remaining.  The two teams traded baskets for Kassie Monday connected with Burke for a layup to make it 69-64 midway through the fourth quarter.  The two teams traded free throws over the next few minutes until McNulty found Burke for a layup to make it 76-71 with 1:23 remaining. Kaylie Monday and Joy Kendrick combined to sink three from the charity stripe for the 79-74 final.

Cumberlands returns to the court on Thursday, January 23, when they host #8 Georgetown.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

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