UC Clermont junior Brittany Freson led the team with 17 points in a 79-35 victory over Andrew University on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016.

UC Clermont junior Brittany Freson led the team with 17 points in a 79-35 victory over Andrew University on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016.

By Garth Shanklin
Sports Editor

Coming off a loss to Wilberforce that saw the University of Cincinnati Clermont Lady Cougars women’s basketball team put up just 15 points in the first half, the team appears to have righted the ship, winning three out of their last four games.

The first of those wins came against Penn State Greater Allegheny, an 85-49 romp on Saturday, Nov. 12. Ashley Johnson led the Lady Cougars, tallying 26 points on 11 of 13 shooting. Teammate Kelsey Finn added 15 points and 12 assists, while Arita Stutz chipped in 12 points and hauled in nine rebounds. Stutz also added four steals.

The Lady Cougars jumped ahead by 21 points in the first half before expanding their lead in the second, en route to their second win of the season. The team shot 63.6 percent, connecting on 35 of their 55 attempts.

Defense ruled the team’s next win, a 79-35 win over Andrews University on Sunday, Nov. 13. Brittany Freson led the team in scoring in this contest, tallying 17 points. Betsy Walsh scored 16 for UC Clermont while also pulling down seven rebounds. Stutz added a double-double, scoring 13 points with 11 rebounds. Lexi Miles added 13 points and seven boards off the bench.

Southern State Community College paid a visit to UC Clermont on Nov. 16 for a contest between the two squads.

The Lady Cougars jumped ahead by 19 after the first quarter and held a 54-38 lead at halftime. They maintained that dominating pace and won the game 99-67 for their third straight win.

Five Lady Cougars scored in double-figures, led by Miles and Brianna Beasley, who each scored 20. Beasley hit six of 10 three-point shots in the contest. Freson added 16 points while Kelsey Finn and Walsh each scored 11.

Two days later, UC Clermont’s winning streak came to an end. The team traveled to Midway on Nov. 18, and much like the loss to Wilberforce one bad half doomed the squad.

They trailed 31-11 after the first period and 57-19 at halftime, only to out-score Midway 35-33 over the final two quarters.

Beasley finished with 12 points to lead the team, while Freson added 11 more. Walsh added 10 points and five rebounds.

The Lady Cougars find themselves in the midst of a lengthy road trip. The team’s next home game is on Dec. 13 against Midway. Prior to that, they face Edison on Nov. 30 before traveling to Kentucky Christian for the Super 8 Classic.