Box Score PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Defending national champion Kentucky Christian hit 45.5 percent of its three-point tries and shot 49 percent for the game en route to a 71-66 win over the University of Pikeville Tuesday night.
 
The loss overshadowed a career-high 31 points by senior Jalisa Jones. The Memphis guard hit 5-of-8 three-point shots and added four rebounds in 32 minutes off the bench.
 
It was Jones who shot her team back in the game in the first half after the Lady Knights took a 26-9 lead with 9:45 left in the first half on a three-point shot by sophomore Jessica Marshall.
 
Jones had 16 points – including 4-of-5 shooting from the arc – the remainder of the half, getting the Bears as close as five (37-32) with 1:29 left. At the break, the score was 40-32.
 
Sophomore Tanya Bowens scored for the Lady Knights with 18:13 left to push the lead to 44-34. From there, however, the Bears scored 10 straight – the final six coming from Jones – to tie the game at 44 with 14:03 remaining.
 
The game was tied once more, at 47, before the Lady Knights took the lead and never gave it back.
 
Jones was joined in double figures by freshman Sydni Wainscott, who had 12, and freshman Brooke Coleman with 10.
 
Coleman, who was 3-of-4 from the field and made all four free throws, led the Bears with six rebounds on a night it won the rebounding battle 34-33.
 
Bowens paced KCU with 19 points. She added four assists. Senior Tera Weddle tossed in 14.
 
Kentucky Christian improved to 24-4 with the win.
 
Pikeville will be home again on Thursday night when it hosts the University of Rio Grande. The opener of a Mid-South Conference doubleheader will tip off at 6 p.m.  
 
 
-UPIKE-