The University of the Cumberlands Women’s Basketball team got their season started as they traveled to Johnson City, TN to take on East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in an exhibition game. The ladies returned home to host the “High 5” Classic, playing Brescia University on Friday, November 7th and King College on Saturday, November 8th.

The Patriot Ladies fell to ETSU, 67-82, a Division I NCAA team. Despite the loss, several Patriots put up strong numbers. Madison Flowers (Somerset, KY) scored 21 points and Lauren Wombles (London, KY) scored 20 points and nine rebounds. Stephanie Quattrociocchi (Windsor, Canada) added another 12 points to the Patriots score while Johnna Abney (Mt. Vernon, KY) had seven assists. Overall, the Patriot Ladies shot 82 percent from the free throw line. This exhibition game gave the Patriot Ladies some extra preparation for the “High 5” Classic.

The women took on their first opponent, Brescia University, in the “High 5” Classic on November 7th. The Patriot Ladies took an early lead in the first, 42-22. Lauren Wombles scored her second double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Lauren Martin (Detroit, MI) put up 19 points, Stephanie Quattrociocchi and Kenyada Wade (Detroit, MI) both added 12 to the Patriots score, and Johnna Abney scored another 10. Madison Flowers and Haley Ratliff (Pikeville, KY) both recorded six assists. From the free throw line, the women shot nearly 90 percent and shot over 40 percent from the three-point line. Dominating again in the second half, the Patriot Ladies won over the Lady Bearcats 94-45.

In the second game on Friday, King College and Pikeville College took the court. In a closely matched game, Pikeville pulled out the win, 58-56.

On the second day of the “High 5” Classic, the women took on the Tornados of King College. The Patriot Ladies shut out King College for the first eight minutes of play, going up 16-0. Lauren Wombles scored 12 points in the first half alone and 26 overall with seven rebounds, three steals, and a block. Wombles was also perfect from the free throw line. Kenyada Wade (Detroit, MI) put up 13 points and Johnna Abney recorded seven assists. The Patriot Ladies forced 27 turnovers and had five blocks and 11 steals. The women beat King College 70-36, remaining undefeated in the “High 5” Classic.

Also on Saturday, Brescia and Pikeville went to action. It was again a close game for Pikeville as they came away with another win, 97-92.

After the first three games of this new season, the women are 2-1. The Patriot Ladies will be traveling to Pikeville, KY to play in the Pikeville Classic against Covenant College on November 14th at 8:00PM and Bluefield College November 15th at 4:00PM.