PIKEVILLE, Ky. – West Virginia Tech made some key 3-pointers down the stretch to outlast the University of Pikeville women's basketball team 76-71 on Saturday afternoon in the East Ky. Expo Center.

While the Golden Bears (5-3) led by as many as 17 points in the game, it was all tied up at 64-64 with 4:40 to play. A 7-0 run by Tech over the next minute may have proved the difference though as Katelyn Byrd and Savannah Shamblin hit back-to-back 3s sandwiched around a single made free throw to go up by seven.

UPIKE (4-4) cut the deficit to three twice the rest of the way, including with 1:15 left when Adison Corder connected on a corner triple. Mia Greatrex followed that up with a steal, but a chance at a tie was lost when Pikeville immediately had a turnover of its own.

Despite the mistake, it was still 74-71 with 10 seconds left when UPIKE got a stop on defense, but the rebound bounced around and ultimately fell in Zhane West of Tech's hands. She was sent to the line where she made both shots, essentially sealing the win with only 3 seconds left.  

Corder led Pikeville with 21 points and seven rebounds while going 4 for 7 from deep and Mia Greatrex added 14 points off the bench. Emily Baker led the Bears with 10 rebounds as they won the battle of the boards 42-32.

Alexandra Combs and Laura Requena paced Tech with 15 points each while Requena also added 11 rebounds for a double-double.

Both teams shot 43 percent from the field and UPIKE hit nine extra free throws, but it couldn't overcome 21 turnovers which the Golden Bears turned into 31 points.

It was a 15-14 lead for Pikeville at the 2:18 mark of the first quarter when Tech began an 18-0 run that spanned two quarters and lasted for six minutes. When Corder finally ended the run with a 3, the Golden Bears were up 32-18 with 6:14 left before halftime. It ended up being a 10-point game at the break thanks to a mini 4-0 run to end the half.  

Trailing 49-36 in the third quarter, UPIKE got itself back in the game for good with an 8-0 run, eventually clawing all the way back to tie the score at 52. On the first basket of the fourth quarter, a 3 by Mullins, UPIKE regained the lead for the first time since it was 15-14.

But the lead switched hands seven times after that until a 3 by Byrd put the Golden Bears in front for good.

UP NEXT

The Bears head north for Thanksgiving where they will face Indiana-Northwest at 5 p.m. ET at the Siena Heights Classic in Adrian, Mich.

-UPIKE-