Box Score PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville took another tough Mid-South Conference loss Thursday night, falling to the University of Rio Grande 80-69.
 
Senior guard Kaylee Helton led all scorers with 21 points for Rio Grande and complement them with three blocks, three assists and two steals. Jayvonna Saddler, a junior forward, added 16 points and 10 boards for a double-double. Junior guard Shardae Morrison-Fountain ran the offense well with 12 points and a game-high six assists, while freshman forward Tinesha Taylor added 12 points herself.
 
Sophomore guard Kate Hammond added 10 points for the Red Storm, which improved to 17-10 on the season and evened its conference mark at 7-7.
 
Pikeville (4-24) was led offensively by freshman forward Whitney Jackson, who had 15 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench before suffering an injury midway through the second half. Sophomore Brogan Conley did her best to step up in Jackson's absence, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds.
 
The start of the game had the Bears faithful uneasy as Rio Grande was able to begin with a quick 11-4 run in which the Bears appeared confused defensively. Following a timeout and regrouping of the troops by Bears Head Coach Bill Watson, UPIKE was able to score seven unanswered points to tie the game, then took the lead on Jackson's free throw.
 
UPIKE led for most of the first half thanks to a strong, physical defense that was able to stop Rio Grande's crisp passing and force them into attempting three-pointers, which they went 2-of-9 on in the first half and 4-14 for the game. The Red Storm crept back into the game and held a brief lead, but went into the locker room trailing the Bears 35-33.
 
In the second half, things began to fall off for the young Bears. Rio Grande, which shot only 43.3% from the field in the first half, was able to get more quality shots and hit 64.3% as a team in the second. After seeing his team give up 15 unanswered points, Coach Watson called a timeout trailing 52-37.
 
The Bears will finish their season with two home games, first against WVU Tech on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Red Storm next play Saturday at 2 p.m. as well, when they travel to U.Va.-Wise.
 
 
 
-UPIKE-