Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots women's basketball team scored at least 20 points in both the second and third quarters, however, it wasn't enough as the fell to Milligan 75-71 in overtime Friday afternoon inside the Rollins Center. With the win the Buffaloes improve to 3-1 on the year, while Cumberlands moves to 3-3.
Abby Varney led the Patriots with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds for her first double-double.
Noel Smith followed with 12 points and nine rebounds while
Aden Clark and
Olivia Onyemobi each finished with 10 points, with Clark adding three assists and three steals.
Cumberlands opened the game with a three-point play from Varney to take an early 3-0 lead before
Aden Clark connected from beyond the arc to make it 6-3. Onyemobi followed with a layup to put UC ahead 8-6 midway through the opening quarter. Milligan responded with five straight points to take an 11-8 advantage, but
Aden Clark knocked down her second three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining to even the score at 11-11 heading into the second.
The two teams traded baskets to open the second quarter before
Riley Rarick converted a layup to event the score at 19-19 midway through the period. Milligan went on a 6-3 run, before Varney scored inside to cut the deficit to 25-24. Onyemobi added a layup to put UC back in front. After another Milligan three, Cumberlands responded with baskets from Powell,
Gracie Clark, and Varney to send the Patriots into halftime leading 32-28.
Cumberlands carried that momentum into the third quarter as Varney knocked down a three before Onyemobi added a layup to make it 37-31. Milligan trimmed the deficit to one, but
Aden Clark answered with a jumper before Carrico finished inside to put UC ahead 41-38. With five minutes remaining in the period, Varney connected on another triple that sparked a 9-0 Patriots run to extend their lead to 50-40 with 3:05 left. Milligan responded with four straight points, but
Aden Clark knocked down a jumper in the closing minute to send UC into the fourth quarter ahead 52-44.
Cumberlands continued to control the game early in the fourth with a four-point run to make it 56-46. After the Buffaloes went on a 9-2, Varney converted a three-point play to restore a six-point advantage at 61-55. The Buffaloes answered with seven straight points to take a 62-61 lead with just over two minutes remaining. UC responded with back-to-back layups from Varney and Smith putting Cumberlands in front 65-62 with 1:57 remaining. The two teams traded free-throws before a Milligan three-pointer with seven seconds on the clock tied the game at 67-67, forcing overtime.
The Buffaloes struck first in the extra period with a three-pointer, but Onyemobi answered with a layup to bring UC within one at 70-69. Milligan followed with another basket to push the lead to three before Smith finished inside to make it 72-71 with just under two minutes remaining. Cumberlands was unable to find another basket down the stretch, and Milligan converted three free throws in the final seconds to secure the 75-71 victory.
UC will return to action Thursday, November 12, when the Patriots host Alice Lloyd. Tip-off is set for 7 PM.
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