Williamsburg, KY – Lakin Burke led a trio of Patriots in double figures as the #25 Patriots women's basketball team pulled utilized a strong first half to defeat (RV) Milligan 77-64, Friday afternoon on Randy Vernon Court. With the win, UC improves to 3-0 on the season, while the Buffaloes move to 0-2.
Burke led the way for Cumberlands with 17 points and 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, while
Joy Kendrick netted 20 points and four rebounds.
Aden Clark went 5-6 from the field with ten points, while Zaram Fredrick tallied seven rebounds and a pair of blocks.
Milligan won the opening tip, however
Zaram Fredricks with a block to keep the game scoreless. UC took the early lead consecutive buckets from
Darcie Anderson and
Lakin Burke giving UC the 4-1 lead. Burke and Anderson each tallied a basket as part of UC's 8-0 run to take the 8-1 lead midway through the first quarter.
Aden Clark provided a spark off the bench for Cumberlands with five straight points extending the Patriots lead 15-3 with 3:44 remaining. Milligan responded with eight unanswered points before
Peyton Mounce added a strong drive and finish as the Patriots took a 20-11 lead after the first quarter.
Burke connected with
Amy Thompson for a transition layup as part of five unanswered points for UC extending their lead to 25-11. The two teams traded possession until Anderson drained a three-pointer to make it 35-24 with 4:28 remaining in the half. Two minutes later Clark found Kendrick, who went baseline for a layup giving Cumberlands the 40-29 advantage. Kendrick and Clark each sank a pull-up jumper in the closing minute of the half as UC took a 44-32 lead at the break.
Cumberlands opened the second half with a putback from
Jaydyn Carrico and a strong drive by Kendrick makes it 48-34. Fredricks netted four of the Patriots next six points extending the lead to 54-36 with 6:44 left in the quarter. UC continued their strong defensive effort, while adding six unanswered points making it 60-36 with 3:40 remaining. Milligan responded with a 17-2 run to close out the quarter cutting the Patriots lead to 62-53.
The Patriots utilized strong defense that notched a pair of steals, while netting eight unanswered points, including four straight for Kendrick makes it a 70-53 lead, with six minutes left. Milligan went on an 8-0, that spanned three minutes, before Burke sank a pair of free throws to extend UC's lead to 72-61 with 2:05 remaining. Cumberlands closed it out with seven free throws for the 77-64 final.
The Patriots will return to the court Monday, November 3, when they travel to Cookeville, TN to face Tennessee Tech in an exhibition. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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