COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Defense wins championships and while there wasn't a title on the line Thursday night, 18th ranked University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) played like it, using a dominant defensive performance to beat the 15th ranked Lindsey Wilson College women's basketball team 57-45 at Biggers Sports Center.

With the win, the Patriots take over sole possession of first place in the Mid-South Conference standings. Cumberlands is 7-5 overall and 3-0 in MSC action, while the Blue Raiders drop to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in league play.

Senior Viktoria Krell led Lindsey Wilson with 16 points and 11 rebounds and sophomore Ashley Rainey added 11 points and eight rebounds with five of her points coming from the free-throw line.

Haley Ratliff paced the Patriots with 17 points and five rebounds, while Lauren Wombles added 16 points and a pair of steals.

Three-point shooting was a dagger for the Patriots as they knocked down 9-of-20 shots from behind the arc compared to just a 1-of-9 showing by Lindsey Wilson.

The Blue Raiders shot 39.0 percent from the field, while Cumberlands didn't shoot a great percentage either at 40.4, but did connect on 45.0 percent of its 3-point tries.

Lindsey Wilson was in control of the game early on but two quick fouls on Rainey changed the game plan with the sophomore forward not able to be as aggressive on defense.

Cumberlands pointed its attack at hard drives in the paint and looks outside to open three point shooters to enter the halftime break up 26-25. The rest of the way it was all Patriots as they mounted a lead as high as 12 points which was the final margin.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday against Wilberforce University in Biggers Sports Center.