GRAYSON, Ky.— Traveling to Grayson, Ky. on Saturday for a brief 1-game road trip, the Montreat women's basketball team clashed with the Kentucky Christian University Knights in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest. Despite trailing for most of the matchup, the Cavaliers erased a double-digit second-half deficit to claim the lead late and steal a 72-70 win on the road. With their fourth consecutive triumph, the Cavs remained perfect in AAC play and improved to 4-3 (3-0 AAC) on the year.
 
In a high-scoring first quarter of action, the hosts jumped out to an early lead. Virginia Edmondson hit the Cavs' lone 3-pointer of the half to put the visitors on top, 3-2, but an 8-for-11 start from the floor saw the Knights establish a 22-13 advantage on the scoreboard with 3:46 left in the frame. Despite nearly falling behind by double digits, Rymiah Sanders helped Montreat close the gap. The freshman poured in 10 points in the quarter, and Adrianna Gullette connected on a shot inside the paint just before the period ended to cap off a 13-5 spurt and cut the KCU lead to 27-26.
 
Kentucky Christian (0-4, 0-3 AAC) controlled the second quarter like it did for much of the first, outscoring the Cavaliers by seven (18-11) over the course of the frame. Three Edmondson baskets around the rim kept the visiting team close for a bit, but a 14-4 run aided the Knights in matching their largest lead of the half (41-32) with 4:02 remaining prior to the intermission. Ultimately, Montreat shot just 25.0 percent (4-16 FG) in the quarter, and KCU possessed a 45-37 lead at halftime.
 
Each team drained 15 of its shot attempts as the Cavs went 15-of 34 (44.1 percent) from the field and the Knights made 46.9 percent (15-32 FG) of their looks; however, Montreat connected on just one of its 10 3-point tries while Kentucky Christian made four of its 11 attempts from deep (36.4 percent). The Cavaliers held 7-2 edges in turnovers forced and points off turnovers, but KCU managed to accrue 9-2 advantages in assists and offensive rebounds. Edmondson led the visitors with 16 first-half points, and Sanders contributed 11 points of her own. Vaniyah Petty hauled in a team-best three first-half rebounds.
 
Both teams drilled three looks from the field by the midpoint of the third quarter, but all three of Kentucky Christian's makes came from beyond the arc, while just one of the three for the visiting Cavs was from downtown. As a result, the Knights maintained a 54-44 lead five minutes into the frame. Gullette, who scored eight points in the quarter, notched a steal and a layup in the final minutes, and Edmondson cancelled out KCU's fourth triple of the period with one of her own just before the buzzer sounded. Those late buckets kept Montreat within arm's length of the hosts, 59-53, with only 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
The Cavaliers chipped away at their deficit in the fourth quarter, and it paid dividends late. Sanders and Edmondson buried two crucial 3-pointers to bring Montreat within three points (63-60) merely 3:24 into the frame. After two more of Sanders' baskets helped keep the Cavs within a possession, Gullette finished the job. Two Gullette free throws coupled with a jumper vaulted Montreat ahead of the Knights, 71-70, with 1:19 left. Seizing its first lead since 28-27 in the second quarter, the visitors did everything they could to hang on. Edmondson added a free throw to give Montreat its largest lead of the day, and the Cavs' defense prevented KCU from getting a potential shot off prior to the buzzer. In the end, Montreat left Kentucky with a 72-70 come-from-behind victory.
 
"I'm proud that our team kept fighting all the way to the end," said head coach Josh Thompson. "It was a battle, and KCU played hard the entire game. Glad to get a road conference win."
 
A strong finish to the contest saw the Cavaliers end the afternoon with a more efficient showing from the field. Overall, Montreat made 43.5 percent (27-62 FG) of its shot attempts and 31.6 percent (6-19 3-pt FG) of its looks from deep. Meanwhile, KCU shot 37.3 percent (25-67 FG) overall and 31.0 percent (9-29 3-pt FG) from beyond the arc. Despite giving up 22 offensive boards and being outrebounded 56-26, the Cavs took care of the basketball by committing 12 fewer turnovers (19-7) and translating those turnovers into 17 points. Montreat also owned a 12-4 edge in steals.
 
Edmondson (23 points), Sanders (21 points) and Gullette (18 points) combined for 62 of the squad's 72 points, as well as 24 of the team's 27 made baskets. Cierra Lail paced the Cavaliers with seven rebounds, and Edmondson led all players with five steals, a career high.
 
The Montreat women's basketball team returns to McAlister Gymnasium on Tuesday for another AAC matchup, this time against St. Andrews University. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Montreat, N.C.