Columbia, KY – Kassie Monday sank a pair of free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining to give the sixth-ranked Patriots women's basketball team a 70-68 win over Lindsey Wilson Thursday night at the Biggers Sports Center.  With the win, UC improves to 22-3 overall this season and 8-1 in conference play.

Kassie Monday led the way for the Patriots with 18 points, including 8-8 from the charity stripe, four assists, and three steals.  Kaylie Monday sank four three-pointers and finished with 18 points, while Anaia Hoard chipped in 19 points and six rebounds.  Lakin Burke grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds to go along with three blocks as LeeAnna McNulty added eight points and four rebounds.

Off the opening tip, Kassie Monday drove the lane for a layup to put Cumberlands in front 2-0.  Lindsey Wilson scored eight unanswered points, before Monday added a transition layup cutting the deficit to 8-4 with 5:56 remaining. The two teams traded baskets before Anaia Hoard tallies a steal and finds LeeAnna McNulty for a layup to make it 11-8.  The Blue Raiders netted 11 unanswered points before Kaylie Monday hit a layup to cut the deficit to 22-10 after the opening quarter.

Kaylie Monday opened the second quarter with a three pointer.  The Patriots went on a 7-2 run that was capped off by a three-pointer from Hoard to make it 28-20 with 6:47 remaining. On the next possession Zaram Fredrick tallied a block, which was the 108^th of her career, tying Lauren Martin for second in program history. The two teams traded baskets before Kassie Monday notched a steal and sank a pair of free throws to pull UC within nine at 33-24.  Kaylie Monday hit her second three-pointer, while Fredricks added a free throw to cut the deficit to 37-28 at half.

Cumberlands opened the second half with Kassie Monday finding Kaylie Monday for a three-pointer.  Kassie Monday tallied a pair of three-point plays to pull the Patriots within two at 39-37 with 7:52 remaining.  Two minutes later, Kaylie Monday grabbed a defensive rebound and on the other end of the court drained a three-pointer off an assists from Kassie Monday to cut the deficit to 41-40. Hoard sank four from the charity stripe, while Kaylie Monday notched a steal and layup to put UC in front 46-45, their first lead since the opening minute of the game.  The lead changed three times and in the closing seconds of the quarter McNulty added a layup giving the Patriots a 52-49 lead.

McNulty sank a pair of free throws before connecting with Hoard on the wing for a three-pointer to make it 57-52.  The two teams traded baskets before Lakin Burke notched a jumper to extend the lead to 63-58 with 5:45 remaining.  UC went on a 4-2 run over the next two minutes as Hoard added a layup, while Kassie Monday notched her third steal of the game to make it 67-60 with three minutes remaining.  Lindsey Wilson went on an 8-1 run that was capped off with a Saniyah Shelton jumper to tie the game with 29 seconds remaining.  Cumberlands utilized the clocked before Kassie Monday was fouled and she sank both her free throws with 4.7 seconds left.  The Blue Raiders final chance was off the mark as UC held on for the 70-68 win.

The Patriots return to the court on Saturday, February 15, when they host Cumberland in their regular season home finale.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. and prior to the game UC will honor their six seniors.
 
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