PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Rachel Lee scored 13 points, but she was the only University of Pikeville player to score in double figures as it was held to 33 percent shooting in an 85-57 loss to Marian (Ind.) on Friday night in the East Ky. Expo Center.

Marian shot 50 percent and hit 13 of 25 3-pointers as it built a 49-26 lead by halftime before going on to outscore the Bears just 36-31 in the second half. Rachel Titzer paced the Knights with 20 points off the bench and Kellie Kirkhoff added 19.

Marian's Macy Willoughby hit a game-high five 3s to finish with 15 points as it outrebounded UPIKE 46-35.

UPIKE (8-6) was much better from the free-throw line, hitting 9 of 12, compared to a 6-of-15 showing by the Knights who improve to 13-2 overall.

Aundrea Matchen played well off the bench with nine points and six rebounds and Emily Baker had eight rebounds, five boards and two steals, but only making 21 of 63 shots from the field was too much for the Bears to overcome against the two-time defending NAIA Div. II champs.

It was tied 12-12 midway through the first period, but Marian closed the frame outscoring the Bears 17-7 to start to pull away.

It took over six minutes for UPIKE to score in the second quarter as a layup by Hailey Anderson made it 42-21 with 3:52 left until halftime. The Bears never led in the game and trailed by as many as 34 points late in the fourth quarter.

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UPIKE hosts Rio Grande (Ohio) at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 30. 

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