Henderson, TN – The #12 Patriots had four players in double figures but it wasn't enough as they fell to sixth-ranked Freed-Hardeman 82-73 Saturday afternoon.  With the win, the Lions move to 17-0 on the season, while the Patriots move to 15-3.

Joy Kendrick led the way with 22 points, five rebounds, and four assists.  Darcie Anderson and Jaydyn Carrico notched 13 points apiece, while Peyton Mounce added 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.  Zaram Fredricks chipped in seven rebounds and nine points. 

UC jumped out to an early lead as Joy Kendrick notched a steal and laid it up putting UC in front early.  Zaram Fredrick added a putback before Jaydyn Carrico notched a steal and layup giving UC a 6-3 lead, two minutes into the game.  The two teams traded baskets until Darcie Anderson sank a jumper to put the Patriots in front 12-10 with 6:25 remaining.  The two teams went back-and-forth until a three-pointer from Kendrick put Cumberlands in front 19-17.  Noel Smith forced a turnover and on the ensuing transition Kendrick connected with Lakin Burke in the paint as UC took a 21-19 edge.  The Lions added late free throws to take a 22-21 lead after the first quarter.

The Patriots defense stepped up forcing multiple Freed-Hardeman turnovers as Carrico added a layup pulling UC within one a 25-24.  Cumberlands continued their stifling defense, while Darice Anderson and Peyton Mounce both hit from behind-the-arc giving the Patriots a 30-27 lead with 5:32 remaining.  Freed-Hardeman retook the lead before Mounce added a second-chance layup tying the game at 32-32. The Lions hit from the free-throw line to take a 39-25 lead into half.

Freed-Hardeman opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run, before Carrico find Kendrick for a jumper cutting the deficit to 46-39.  Kendrick and Mounce each hit a three-pointer, while Fredricks converted a jumper as Cumberlands pulls within two at 49-46 midway through the period.  The Lions went on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes, however, UC responded with back-to-back layups from Mounce and Carrico cutting it 59-52 with 1:23 remaining.  Freed-Hardman took a 65-54 lead into the fourth quarter.

Cumberlands look to rally as Kendrick and Noel Smith combined for seven points to cut the deficit to 67-64 with 6:41 remaining.  Two minutes later, Kendrick notched a steal which led to a Carrico layup as UC pulled within seven.  Freed-Hardeman extended their lead to 12 points, while Anderson drained a three-pointer to cut it to 77-68 with 2:48 remaining.  In the closing minute of the quarter, Anderson notched a three-pointer, before Kendrick added a pair from the charity stripe cutting the deficit to 78-73 with 42.2 seconds remaining.  The was the closest UC came as Freed-Hardeman pulled away for the 82-73 final. 

The Patriots return home to host Cumberland on Thursday, January 15.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
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