PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- A season-best 93.3 percent showing from the free-throw line helped the 22nd-ranked University of Pikeville women's basketball team outlast No. 19 Cumberland (Tenn.) 72-65 in an important Mid-South Conference matchup on Thursday at the East Ky. Expo Center.
UPIKE shot 14 of 15 from the stripe and forced the Phoenix (15-8, 4-7 MSC) into 19 turnovers while giving up just seven of their own. That defensive effort helped as Cumberland outshot the Bears (19-8, 7-5 MSC) 47.3 to 42.9 percent from the field.
Pikeville turned those 19 giveaways into a 26-4 scoring advantage and outscored the Cumberland bench 44-13 to earn its third win of the season over a ranked opponent.
It was a balanced scoring effort for the Bears as Brianna Burbridge and Elisabeth Latham led them with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Aundrea Matchen and Taylor McGlade chipped in with eight each off the bench. Thought it was beat on the glass 37-29, Latham led UPIKE with eight boards.
Nicole Bowers paced the Phoenix with 16 points and Taliah Moore grabbed a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
UPIKE outscored Cumberland 9-2 over the final three minutes of the opening quarter to turn what was just an 8-7 lead into a comfortable 17-9 margin at the end of the frame.
While a 3-point play from Kandice Porter briefly put UPIKE up by 10 to start the second quarter, the Phoenix ended up going on a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 23-20 lead with 4:25 left until halftime. Starting with a Mia Greatrex jumper and Adison Corder 3, the Bears went on a quick 4-0 run to get to a 31-27 halftime lead.
With the help of three early third quarter 3s, Cumberland grabbed its largest lead of the game at 38-31, but Burbridge went on a 6-0 run by herself a few minutes later as part of a 12-4 spurt that saw UPIKE regain the lead at 43-42 with 3:22 left in the third quarter.
Over the final 2:34 of the frame, UPIKE went on a 9-2 run to take a seven-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
While the Bears built a 12-point lead midway through the final quarter, Cumberland was still ready to make a final push. Down 66-54 with 4:46 left, the Phoenix scored nine quick unanswered points to cut the deficit to three two minutes later.
It was still a three-point game under the two-minute mark when Bowers got loose for a layup. For the Bears to hold on for the win they would have to take care of the ball and hit free throws, which they did both. Despite missing their final three field-goal attempts, the Bears played turnover free and made all four of their free throws over the final two minutes.
Up by just three with 18 seconds left, Jamie Castle's two freebies made it a two-possession game and Janisha Lindsey's 3 on the other end was off the mark. Latham finished the game off with the final two makes from the stripe to make it a seven-point win.
UP NEXT
The Bears stay home for a visit from No. 2 Lindsey Wilson at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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