MARIETTA, Ga. -- Life's Kierra Knight had a SportsCenter moment, hitting seven 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but the 17th-ranked University of Pikeville women's basketball team had enough answers of its own to win 90-85 in Mid-South Conference road action on Thursday.
Kelah Eldridge led UPIKE with 18 points, hitting three 3-pointers, and Devin Conley and Adison Corder chipped in with 12 points each. The Bears shot 66.7 percent in the second half to end up at 45.9 for the game, compared to a 41.1 percent showing by Life.
UPIKE and Life both hit 10 threes and were nearly even on the glass, but the Bears got a boost at the free-throw line, making 24-of-37, compared to just 15-of-30 by the Running Eagles.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
UPIKE (8-3, 2-1 MSC) shot out to a 7-1 lead after a three by Rachel Lee before going on to lead by as many as 11 points in the opening quarter on a jumper from Kandice Porter. The Bears led 21-11 at the end of the frame, but it wouldn't stay that way for long after being outscored 19-8 in the second quarter.
It took over two minutes for UPIKE to get its first points in the second quarter as the Running Eagles used a 7-0 run to cut their deficit to four at 21-17. Adison Corder briefly gave the Bears some breathing room with a three, but an 11-2 Life run followed, giving it its first lead at 28-26 on a layup by Aaraven Gilbert.
Things started to turn around for UPIKE offensively in the third quarter after shooting just 29 percent from the field in the first half. It started with Kelah Eldridge knocking down two straight threes to take a 43-32 lead as UPIKE was on its way to leading by as many as 16 points with eight minutes to play in the fourth.
Then Knight started to get things rolling for Life (2-10, 0-3 MSC), hitting her first three at the 7:28 mark to cut the deficit to 13 at 66-53. For the next six minutes she would hit six more 3-pointers, including making it a 73-71 game with 3:28 to play. UPIKE finally felt like they had the game in control at 83-76 with a minute to play after a thee by Eldridge and jumper from Brianna Burbridge, but Knight had a couple more tricks up her sleeve.
Her next three made it a four-point game with 38 seconds left, then a few ticks later she completed a four-point play on another three to get Life back within two. UPIKE stayed in front the rest of the way with help from Jamie Castle as she was sent to the stripe three times, making 5-of-6 free throws, to preserve the win.
After Castle went 1-for-2 on her first trip, Life had a chance to tie with a three, but Damiya Montgomery missed from deep and Castle made it a five-point game on the next trip.
BEAR FACTS
- Rachel Lee with 11 and Castle with 10 were the Bears' other two double-figure scorers.
- Elisabeth Latham led the Bears with nine rebounds, while Aundrea Matchen chipped in with seven boards. Latham also blocked a career-high four shots.
- The Bears had 14 turnovers at halftime, but gave away just nine in the second half.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Castle going 8-of-10 from the stripe was huge, especially the five made in the game's final minute. She finished with six assists and four steals as well.
UP NEXT
UPIKE returns home to face Brescia at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 11 in the East Ky. Expo Center.
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