PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Undefeated and second-ranked Lindsey Wilson overcame major foul trouble to win over the 22nd-ranked University of Pikeville women's basketball team 81-75 on Saturday at the East Ky. Expo Center.
Four of the eight Blue Raiders (26-0, 12-0 MSC) that played had four fouls or more, including Chanel Roberts and Courtney Sandlin who fouled out. But Lindsey Wilson shot 52.8 percent from the field, the best mark against UPIKE (19-9-76 MSC) this season, and blocked five shots to hold on for the win.
The Bears were held to 37.9 percent shooting and made just 5 of 23 3-point attempts. In order to keep within striking distance, UPIKE had to count on making a season-high 26 free throws and turning the Blue Raiders over 19 times. UPIKE also outscored the LWC bench 38-11 with the help of 11 points from Mia Greatrex.
The six-point deficit is the closest game for Lindsey Wilson since Feb. 2 when it beat then-No. 8 Campbellsville by five. Only seven of the Blue Raiders' 26 games this season have been decided by single digits.
Despite going 4 of 19 from the field, Devin Conley paced the Bears with 15 points as she knocked down all five of her free throws. Kelah Eldridge joined her in double figures with 12, while Greatrex pulled down eight rebounds.
Lindsey Wilson controlled the glass 37-32 overall as Kayle Styles finished with 17 points and 18 boards. Roberts led all scorers with 19 points, but did not collect a rebound. Styles also finished with five blocks, three assists and two steals to complete one of the most complete performances in the NAIA this season.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
The Bears led the game just once at 6-5 after an Emily Baker layup, but LWC went on a 14-5 spurt to push ahead by eight late in the first quarter. A 13-5 run in the second quarter helped the Blue Raiders grab their largest lead of the game at 16 points with 4:51 on the clock.
From there UPIKE played catch up the rest of the way, but never got closer than seven points up until the final three seconds when a late basket by Baker got it to the final 81-75 score.
UPIKE trailed 41-32 at halftime before falling behind by 16 just over two minutes into the second half. A 9-0 Bear run followed, which was its best segment of the game to get within seven, but wouldn't get any closer over the next 12 minutes. Lindsey Wilson just kept making play after play to keep its lead between nine and 12 points for the majority of the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
UPIKE wraps up the regular season at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday against Cumberlands for senior day at the Expo Center.
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