CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- Held to its lowest scoring output since 2013, the 24th-ranked University of Pikeville women's basketball team found a way to hold off Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 52-48 with a stellar defensive showing of its own on Monday in the final game of the MSC/SSAC Challenge.
The Bears either led or were tied with the Redhawks for 33 minutes before eventually falling behind 39-37 with 7:14 to play. Over the next four minutes, UPIKE rattled off an 11-0 run that ended with a three from Taylor McGlade to give it a nine-point lead late.
Even with Martin Methodist outscoring the Bears 9-4 the rest of the way, the earlier run was enough to hold on for the win. UPIKE improves to 11-4 overall while the RedHawks drop to 7-5. UPIKE went 2-1 at the challenge, while Martin Methodist dropped all three games.
Make it four straight games that Devin Conley has led the Bears in scoring as she finished with 14 points, including three 3-pointers. Mia Greatrex joined her in double figures with 10, while Conley led the team on the glass as well with nine rebounds.
Both teams struggled from the field with UPIKE faring slightly better at 28.6 to 27.3 percent. Both teams shot 25 percent from behind the arc, it's only when you get to three free-throw line where you find a significant difference. The Bears made 15-of-22 shots while the RedHawks connected on just 6 of 9.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
This was an evenly played game, no doubt about it. Starting with the first tie at 7-7 and UPIKE taking just a two-point lead into the second quarter after MMC's Teairra Luckett made a bucket to end the first. The Bears' only breathing room came after an 8-0 run just before halftime to take a 28-20 lead into the break.
Midway through the third quarter UPIKE's lead was at its largest at 36-26 after a free throw from Greatrex, but the RedHawks closed the frame on an 8-1 run to trail by just three points entering the final quarter.
The game saw its first tie since the middle of the first quarter at 37-37, just before Martin Methodist secured its first lead with a shot from Luckett at the 7:14 mark. But it was at that exact point when the RedHawks tasted their first lead that they let the game slip away.
UPIKE responded with an 11-0 run that started with a layup from Elisabeth Latham and a long jumper off a turnover from Conley before McGlades three pushed the lead to nine with 3:37 to play. MMC made a strong push at a comeback with three straight 3-pointers to get within two at 50-48, but Eldridge sealed the win by going 4-for-4 from the stripe in the final minute.
Trailing by four with nine seconds left, MMC's Karson Mullens attempted a three, but it was blocked by Conley and rebounded by Latham as time expired.
BEAR FACTS
- Just before tip-off, Conley was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Week for a second straight award period, becoming the first Pikeville player to earn the honor in back-to-back weeks. Conley lived up to the award again on Monday, tallying 14 points, a career-best nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.
- Eldridge scored all seven of her points from the free-throw line after going 0 for 2 from behind the arc. In Sunday's loss to Mobile (Ala.), Eldridge connected on the 200th 3-pointer of her four-year career.
- Luckett led all scorers with 18 points for the RedHawks and Mickey Head backed her up with 11, including going 3-for-4 on 3-pointers.
- UPIKE's 52 points are its fewest since losing at King (Tenn.) 63-51 on Dec. 12, 2013.
UP NEXT
UPIKE will take an extended holiday break before returning to action against Bluefield State (W. Va.) at 2 p.m. ET on Jan. 2 in the East Ky. Expo Center.
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