Rio Grande, OH – In a game that featured 11 lead changes and seven ties, the seventh-seed Patriots women's basketball team couldn't pull it out as they fell to tenth-seed Indiana Wesleyan 76-69 in overtime Friday night. Cumberlands closes out the season with a 19-11 record after reaching the national tournament for the sixth consecutive year.
 
Joy Kendrick paced the Patriots with 25 points, going 10-16 from the field, including draining four three-pointers. Darcie Anderson added nine points and six rebounds, while Noel Smith finished with eight points and six rebounds.  Zaram Fredricks grabbed a team-high ten rebounds in the game.

The two teams traded baskets to open the game before an Anderson jumper sparked a 7-0 Patriots run, capped by a Kendrick three to give UC an 11-4 advantage.  Later in the quarter, Lakin Burke and Kendrick hit back-to-back jumpers to make it 17-9.

Indiana Wesleyan opened the second quarter with seven straight points before Anderson tallied consecutive baskets pushing Cumberlands lead to 22-16 with 6:24 remaining.  Aden Clark added a jumper as both defenses applied intense pressure leading to the Patriots taking a 25-24 edge into the break.

The two teams traded baskets to open the third quarter as the lead changed six times in the first five minutes of the period.  Later in the quarter, Noel Smith sank five free throws, before Kendrick drained a three-point to put UC in front 42-41 with 1:03 remaining.  Peyton Mounce and Fredricks each added a free throw as Cumberlands took a 44-41 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats took a 46-44 lead a minute into the fourth quarter before Mounce used a strong drive to even the score at 46-46.  The game was tied one more time before Kendrick hit back-to-back baskets giving the Patriots a 52-51 advantage with 4:24 remaining.  Just over a minute later, Anderson found Kendrick on the wing for a three-pointer followed by a Smith steal and layup making it 58-53 with 2:43 left. Indiana Wesleyan scored five straight points to tie the game with 1:12 remaining. In the closing seconds of regulation Smith forced a steal and Carrico had an opportunity with a jumper that just missed sending the game to overtime.

Kendrick added the first five Patriots points in overtime giving Cumberlands a 63-62 lead with 3:42 left.  Indiana Wesleyan went on a 7-0 run before Anderson added a layup cutting the deficit to 69-65. That was the closest UC came as Indiana Wesleyan earned the 76-69 final.   

This concludes the Pats season that saw several standout performances. Joy Kendrick 533 points ranks seventh in program history, while Fredricks set the single season record with 71 blocks.  The senior also grabbed 344 rebounds, which ranks second in program history.    

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