The UC girls cagers played four games in seven days, winning big at Monroe Central Saturday and home against Cambridge City Lincoln Tuesday on senior night but falling at Connersville Monday and dropping a low-scoring affair to Northeastern last Wednesday.

If you were a fan of offense, the NE-UC game wasn’t a great place to be; the TEC matchup featuring teams with 30 wins between them was tied at 3 after one quarter. The Lady Knights, a top-10 team in Class 2A, had an off night and led just 13-11 at the half. A 12-2 third quarter was enough as the teams went dry again in the fourth, limping to a 31-19 final.

It was still only 3-0 when the Patriots finally scored with 2:55 left in the opening period on a Hallie Hughes 14-footer. A Katie McCashland free throw tied it. Hughes scored on the block to begin the second frame. A 3 by Nora Robinson made it 8-3. NE scored five straight to tie it and prompt a timeout by coach Joey Sidell. Hailey Ferris broke the tie with a deuce. Late in the half, Ariel Shuler hit for the Knights and Cami Angi threw one in just in the nick of time to put NE up two.

The Knights found more of a groove after the break, scoring 10 consecutive before a Ferris bucket. NE then opened the fourth on a 6-0 run, leading to a UC timeout at 31-13.

Senior Ava Mikesell led NE with 8 points. Hughes paced UC with 6. 

UC led Monroe 16-3 after one complete and 30-13 by the half. It was 44-27 with a period to go.

On senior night at the Spartan Bowl, the snow makeup game began with ceremonial baskets for CHS’ Jaycee Wilhelm and Pats’ senior Peityn Gillman, both out for the season with injuries. The first quarter was played tight to the vest as it was 9-9 until the Spartans’ Serenity Pennington popped a 3 with four seconds left in the first. McCashland, Ally Gray and Robinson (3) had put UC up 9-4 before Ahniyah Bennett put in five in a row to knot the game.

A solid second stanza by the guests had them up 22-15 at the break. McCashland had a personal 5-0 run to make it 14-12 and Hughes stepped out of her comfort zone to drill a 3. Less than a minute later, McCashland had another trey and the Spartans called time.

A 3 by Gray pushed the lead to 25-15 in the third. With the score 25-17, CHS coach Shana Williams made a bold move and inserted five reserves to replace the original starting five. The subs held UC scoreless for the final 2:35 of the frame while scoring four and cutting it to 25-21.

The Spartan starters heeded their wake-up call and went ahead in the fourth on two Addie Jones 3-pointers. Maddie Harrison and Bennett completed a 7-0 run and UC called time at 31-26. A McCashland drive later shaved it to 31-29 but a backdoor cut by Jones netted two for CHS. Freshman Kendyl Bottomley made it 35-29, followed by a Robinson 3. In the last 15.5 seconds, UC had to build up its foul count to put Connersville at the line. Finally, with 7.4 left, Jones hit 2 of 2 and CHS held on for the 37-32 win.

McCashland had 15 to lead UC; Robinson added 7 and Gray 5.  

Senior night at Roy Stevens Gymnasium was a total mismatch on the court following an opening deuce that allowed Gillman the spotlight. In fact, Morgan Gambill’s complimentary basket after tip off stood up as Lincoln’s only score until very late in the first half. Meanwhile, UC added 22 more to lead by 20 at the break.

The Eagles had a slightly better third but trailed 34-12 with a frame to go. A Ferris 3-point make highlighted the closing fourth. The final was 45-14 as McCashland scored 9 and Ferris and Gray 8 each.

UC (13-7, 4-2) wraps up the regular season Friday at Knightstown, then takes on Shenandoah in the sectional opener at Hagerstown Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.