Portsmouth, OH – The #18th-ranked Patriots women's basketball team found stellar play on both ends of the floor capturing the 78-62 win over (RV) Shawnee State Thursday night.  With the win, UC improves to 11-1 on the season, while the Bears move to 7-3.

Lakin Burke led the way for Cumberlands with 17 points, 15 rebounds double-double.  Peyton Mounce added 14 points on 6-9 shooting with six rebounds.  Darcie Anderson and Amy Thompson combined for 21 points and nine rebounds.  Zaram Fredricks continued to be a force on the glass grabbing 14 rebounds on the night.

Lakin Burke set the tone early for the Patriots with the Patriots first nine points of the game including two assists from Darcie Anderson as Cumberlands jumped out to a 9-5 lead midway through the first quarter.  Zaram Fredricks added an assist and a layup extending UC's lead to 13-6.  Cumberlands continued to apply pressure defensively while going on a 6-0 run to close out the first quarter, capped off with a Mackenzie Babb putback made it 19-12.

Shawnee State pulled within two points a minute into the second quarter, however, Peyton Mounce added four points as part of a 6-0 run to push UC's lead to 27-19 with 7:16 remaining.  A couple minutes later, Fredricks notch a trio of defensive boards on back-to-back possession which lead to eight straight Patriot points extending the lead to 37-24 with 3:06 remaining.  Amy Thompson added a layup as Shawnee State closed out the period on a 5-2 run cutting Cumberlands lead to 42-29 at the break.

Both defenses picked up the tempo to start the second half as Burke tallied a rebound and putback just over a minute into the period.  The two teams traded baskets before Babb connected with Aden Clark from long range making it 49-33 with 6:47 remaining.  Both defenses continued to step up with strong play as the Patriots notched three consecutive three-pointers from Thompson, Mounce and Anderson to extend their lead to 60-39 with 2:11 remaining.  Kendrick closed out the quarter with back-to-back assists as UC took a 64-43 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The Bears opened the fourth quarter on a 6-2 run before UC coupled an Anderson three-pointer with a Burke layup to take the 71-49 advantage.  Shawnee State went on a 8-3 run before Mounce grabbed her fourth offensive rebound and put it up extending the lead to 76-57 with 2:33 remaining.  Carrico added a late jumper for the 78-62 final.

Cumberlands outrebounded Shawnee State 53-29 in the game, while hitting 43.5% from the field.

UC returns to the court on Monday, December 15, when they travel to Lakeland, FL to take part in the Southeastern Invite.  The Patriots will face Brewton-Parker with tip-off set for 4 p.m.
 
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