COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort and timely baskets to defeat Cumberlands (Ky.) 62-54 on Thursday night at Biggers Sports Center.

Despite never leading in the contest, Cumberlands (15-10, 3-8 Mid-South Conference) cut the lead down to two points multiple times, but key Lindsey Wilson baskets helped keep the lead and move the Blue Raiders to 22-5 overall and 8-3 in conference play with the win. Lindsey Wilson also took the first regular season matchup in the series, winning 57-47 in Williamsburg, Kentucky.

Kayla Styles, the reigning NAIA National Player of the Week, poured in 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for her 16th double-double of the year. Reagan Turner added 16 points and Teanna Curry had 12. Gerda Paulauskaite grabbed 11 boards and had five blocks and Molly Stone had eight rebounds.

Lindsey Wilson got off to a fast start, going on a 12-1 run to begin the game with Heidi Huffman nailing a pair of 3-pointers during the streak. After missing their opening five shots of the game, Cumberlands erased the deficit with a 15-4 run over the final five and a half minutes of the quarter to level the game at 16-16. A Teanna Curry 3-pointer at the buzzer slightly pushed the Blue Raiders back out front 19-16 to end the frame.

Lindsey Wilson tried to re-stretch the lead in the second quarter, pushing it to as many as nine at 30-21 after a Turner jumper, but the Patriots once again clawed their way back, using defensive stops and a key 3-pointer to get things down to a single possession at 30-28. The Blue Raiders eventually took a 33-28 lead into halftime.

LWC shot 44.0 percent (11-25) from the floor in the half with a quartet of 3-pointers but made just 7-of-13 attempts from the free throw line. Cumberlands shot 38.5 percent (10-26), also with four 3-pointers. LWC won the rebounding battle 21-14, including seven offensive rebounds which were turned into nine points.

The third quarter was a struggle offensively for both sides as the two teams combined to shoot 11-for-33 in the frame. Curry and Styles were the lone Blue Raiders to score in the quarter, Curry recording eight points and Styles with three. LWC was able to extend the lead to seven at 37-30 after back-to-back baskets from Curry, but the Patriots continued to answer and cut the lead back to two points multiple times. An offensive rebound and putback by the Patriots on their final possession made it a two-point deficit at the end of the third 44-42.

LWC went to a zone defense for a short period to start the fourth quarter and came away with a few defensive stops which helped the offense score six straight to begin the quarter and make it 50-42 after a Styles basket. Cumberlands made a 3-pointer on its next possession, but that's as close as the Patriots would come as Turner scored eight of LWC's final 10 points to help seal the 62-54 victory.

Shayla Simpson led the Patriots with 12 points in the loss, followed by Cheyenne Madden and Kayla Bruner with 11 each.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action on Saturday as the Blue Raiders travel to Life (Ga.).