Lady Wildcats Upset Lady Patriots in Thrilling Showdown & Head to Bowling Green
MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The huge crowd at Crisp Arena in McKenzie witnessed the #14 Bethel Lady Wildcats upset the Cumberlands Lady Patriots 81-63 Saturday afternoon.
Despite entering the game as an underdog, Bethel delivered a performance full of heart, hustle, and clutch shooting to hand the Patriots a rare loss.
The victory was made even sweeter by the emotional tribute to three key seniors before the game. Kyla Taylor, Brooklyn Williams, and Kalynn Howard were honored just before tip-off. Manager CeCe Johnson was also saluted.
The game began with an early offensive onslaught from Bethel, who dominated the opening period. The Lady Wildcats were in complete control, shooting an impressive 56.3% from the field in the first quarter and raced out to a 23-3 lead. Cumberlands' offense was ice-cold in that period, managing just one field goal while struggling from the outside, with only 25% accuracy from beyond the arc.
Cumberlands, ranked #6 nationally with a strong 24-4 record and a top-tier defense, seemed caught off guard by the relentless energy and shooting from Bethel. Guard Micah Hart was particularly instrumental in Bethel's strong start, hitting multiple jumpers, finishing the first quarter with nine points. Alongside her, Madison Hart contributed with her usual poise, tallying seven points early, including a three-pointer, helping to build the early cushion.
Cumberlands' Attempted Response
Aided by a strong performance from senior guard Kassie Monday, who scored seven points in the second, the Pats battled back. However, their shooting woes continued, with a mere 37.5% from the field, and they could not close the gap significantly.
Bethel's offense remained steady, as the Lady Wildcats' balance became evident. While Bethel's freshman player, Micah Hart, was lighting up the scoreboard, it was the all-around contributions that defined Bethel's game. Kalynn Howard and Madison Hart were key in keeping the Lady Patriots' defense honest, with each player adding important points throughout the game. Howard, despite struggling a bit from the floor (1-6 FG), played a crucial role on defense and in distributing the ball, finishing with four assists.
At the halftime buzzer, the Lady Wildcats held a commanding 42-20 lead, having outshot Cumberlands 43.9% to 37.5% and capitalizing on the Patriots' mistakes. Bethel had been relentless in exploiting Cumberlands' lack of defensive rotation and managed to convert 36 bench points to the Patriots' 21.
The Patriots' Struggle Continues
Coming out of the break, Cumberlands showed signs of life. The third quarter was their best, as they managed 20 points to Bethel's 16. Still, Bethel's defense remained solid, limiting Cumberlands to just 35.3% shooting in the period. The Patriots' leading scorer, Kassie Monday, kept firing away, ultimately finishing with a game-high 15 points, but it was not enough to overcome Bethel's well-rounded attack.
The Lady Patriots tried to rally in the final frame, scoring 23 points, led by five from Monday and six from Joy Kendrick, but it was simply too little, too late. Bethel's offense found another gear, with Micah Hart scoring eight points in the final quarter to finish with 24 points on 50% shooting. The Lady Wildcats' free-throw shooting, which had been a bit inconsistent earlier in the game, also clicked in the fourth, as they converted 83.3% of their attempts.
Key Moments and Standouts
One of the biggest stories of the game was the exceptional performance off the bench by Bethel. While the starting lineup set the tone, the reserves were critical in keeping the intensity high and maintaining the lead. Mikee Buchanan, one of Bethel's key players, was on fire, hitting 10-17 shots for 22 points, including 2-7 from three-point range. Her offensive explosion helped to push the Lady Wildcats' lead to an insurmountable margin late in the game.
Meanwhile, Cumberlands' offense was stifled by Bethel's team defense, and the Lady Patriots were forced into numerous turnovers. With only 15 assists and 15 turnovers, they never found a rhythm, which ultimately sealed their fate.
For Cumberlands, Monday's 15-point, six rebound performance, along with Joy Kendrick's 12 points and four rebounds, were the only bright spots. But despite their best efforts, it wasn't enough to dig them out of the massive hole they found themselves in after the first quarter.
A Glorious Victory for Bethel
As the final buzzer sounded, the score stood at 81-63 in favor of Bethel. The Lady Wildcats had pulled off a stunning upset over the #6 team in the country. Bethel's head coach, standing on the sidelines, was ecstatic. His team had outworked, outsmarted, and outshot the highly ranked Cumberlands squad, securing the big win. It was Bethel's first ever win over UC.
"We knew we had to come out with intensity," said Micah Hart, who finished with a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds. "We wanted to make a statement that we're not just going to roll over for anyone, no matter what their ranking. Everyone contributed today."
The win propels Bethel to a 21-7 record, with a much-needed momentum boost as they look to close out the regular season strong. Cumberlands, meanwhile, will have to regroup after their first conference loss in months, hoping to learn from their mistakes as they prepare for the postseason.
Key Performers:
- Cumberlands: Kassie Monday – 15 points, six rebounds; Joy Kendrick – 12 points, four rebounds.
- Bethel: Micah Hart – 24 points, 11 rebounds; Mikee Buchanan – 22 points; Madison Hart – 17 points, eight rebounds.
"Senior Night is always emotional, especially when you have players who have poured so much into this program," said Bethel head coach Chris Nelson. "Kyla, Brooklyn, and Kalynn have been the backbone of this team. Tonight was about honoring them, and they helped lead us to a big victory."
Article by Derrick Hubble -SID Assistant
Mid-South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament bracket released
MSC Women's Basketball Tournament Page: https://mid-southconference.org/documents/2025/2/22//MSC_WBB_Tournament_2025.pdf?id=468
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Mid-South Conference officials released the 2025 MSC Women's Basketball Tournament bracket Saturday following the conclusion of the conference's regular season.
The conference tournament begins on Saturday, March 1, with three quarterfinal games, culminating with the championship game on Tuesday, March 4. All games are scheduled to be played at Studle Financial Arena on the campus of Bowling Green High School.
Campbellsville (Ky.) and Cumberlands (Ky.) -- the top two seeds in the tournament -- shared the Mid-South Conference regular-season title with 10-2 conference records. Cumberlands is the top seed in the tournament based on the conference's tiebreaker procedure.
Campbellsville and Cumberlands split during the two regular-season meetings. The Patriots earned the top seed based on the second tiebreaker -- how each team did against teams in the MSC in descending order in the regular-season standings. Cumberlands swept third-seeded Freed-Hardman while the Tigers split with the Lions.
Based on its seed, Cumberlands (24-4, 10-2 in the MSC) receives a bye into the tournament's semifinals and awaits a quarterfinal winner.
In Saturday's first quarterfinal game, No. 4-seed Georgetown (Ky.) (20-7, 6-6) meets fifth-seeded Bethel (Tenn.) (20-7, 5-7) at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 1. The Georgetown-Bethel winner plays Cumberlands in Monday's first semifinal.
In the lower half of the bracket, No. 2-seed Campbellsville (24-2, 10-2) faces No. 7-seed Cumberland (Tenn.) (8-19, 0-12) at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday. Freed-Hardeman (24-4, 8-4) faces sixth-seeded Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (16-12, 3-9) in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The two winners play in the second semifinal on Monday. The championship game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, March 4.
The tournament champion receives the conference's automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament later in March.