PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Led by five players in double figures scoring, 11th-ranked Shawnee State got past the 17th-ranked University of Pikeville women's basketball team 81-76 on Saturday afternoon at the East Ky. Expo Center.
While Pikeville outshot SSU from the field 47.6 to 39.1 percent, it could not make up for shooting 12 less free throws than the visitors as Shawnee State shot 85.2 percent from the stripe (23-of-27) to hold on for the win.
Shawnee State improves to a perfect 10-0 with the win and moves to 1-0 in Mid-South Conference play, while UPIKE drops to 6-3 overall and 0-1 in league play.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
There were eight lead changes in a tight first half before Shawnee State eventually took a 41-40 lead into halftime and kept itself in front the rest of the game. UPIKE clawed within a single point three times in the third quarter and four more times in the fourth, but just couldn't take the next step.
Trailing by seven with 5:53 to play, Pikeville's Devin Conley gave it her best shot to get her team back in front. The junior made three baskets and went 4-for-4 from the stripe over the next five minutes to get UPIKE within one at 76-75 with 33 seconds on the clock.
After SSU's Brandie Snow hit just one free throw on the next possession, UPIKE had a chance to register the first tie of the game with two freebies for Jamie Castle, but she made just one as well. Bailey Cummins made it a three-point game with two makes on the other end and UPIKE ended up turning the ball over with three seconds left before it could attempt a tying 3-pointer.
Madison Ridout collected the final steal and drove for an uncontested layup to get to the final five-point margin. UPIKE had led by as many as five points at 17-12 in the first quarter, but watched its last lead of 40-39 slip away on a Jonessa Moore layup and Shawnee State stayed up for the next 22 minutes.
BEAR FACTS
- Conley was the lone UPIKE player to reach double figures, netting 25 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers.
- Brianna Burbridge came up one-point shy of a double-double, tallying nine points and 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass.
- Of SSU's five double-digit scorers, Moore and Ridout led the way with 21 points each, while Moore also pulled down 15 rebounds and had four steals and two blocks.
- Burbridge's 13 rebounds and Conley's seven made free throws were both season highs for UPIKE, but the team's 22 turnovers were a season high as well.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Shawnee State's 23-of-27 showing from the free-throw line, compared to just 12-of-15 by UPIKE.
UP NEXT
UPIKE has a quick turnaround as it welcomes Georgetown into the East Ky. Expo Center at 6 p.m. ET on Monday.
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