Lebanon, TN – The #21 Patriots fourth quarter rally fell short as they dropped a road contest to (RV) Cumberland 65-61 Thursday night. 

Joy Kendrick led the way for UC with 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists.  Lakin Burke added 12 points and eight boards, while Amy Thompson and Aden Clark netted nine points apiece.   Zaram Fredricks grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with eight points.

UC (17-10) set the tone early jumping out to a 7-0 lead sparked by Joy Kendrick that notched a jumper and an assist on the run.  The two teams traded baskets, before Aden Clark found Lakin Burke on the block for a layup to make it a 13-4 lead with 3:16 remaining.  The Phoenix went on an 10-2 run as Zaram Fredricks grabbed an offensive board and putback at the buzzer to give UC the 17-16 lead.

The Phoenix (16-10) open the second quarter on a 9-0 run, that spanned 3:46, to take a 25-17 lead. Noel Smith hit a free throw line jumper to get Cumberlands on the board.  The Patriots utilized strong defense, while Kendrick sank consecutive baskets to even the score 25-25 with 1:27 remaining.  After trading baskets Fredricks and Thompson hit back-to-back layups to put UC in front, however, the Phoenix sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to take the 31-29 lead into the break.

Cumberland extended their lead to 35-29 before Kendrick connects with Burke for a layup to cut it 35-31 with 7:19 remaining.  The two teams traded points before Clark drained a three-pointer from the corner to cut the deficit to 40-36.  Peyton Mounce and Burke added consecutive baskets to bring UC within three 43-40 with 4:29 remaining.  The Phoenix went on a 12-6 run to take a 55-46 lead into the fourth quarter. 

The Patriots came out aggressively in the fourth quarter with a Kendrick layup coupled with a pair of baskets from Fredricks cut the deficit to three, 55-52, with 7:47 left.  Amy Thompson notched a steal and scored four unanswered points to put the Patriots in front 56-55.  The Phoenix retook the lead at 59-56 before Clark connected with Jaydyn Carrico for a transition layup to make it 59-58 with 2:47 left.  After the Phoenix extended the lead to 62-58, Kendrick converted a three-point play, off an assist from Darcie Anderson, to bring the Pats within one at 62-61 with 1:26 left.  That was the closest UC came as Cumberland sank free throws for the 65-61 final.
 
Cumberlands will return to action on Thursday, February 19^th, as they will wrap up their MSC road trip when they travel to Campbellsville, KY to face the #5 Tigers.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
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