PIKEVILLE, Ky. – It wasn't easy, but UPIKE women's basketball did just enough to eke by Point Park on Friday with a 68-62 win.

Four Bears scored in double figures, led by Mary Englert's 17 and Emily Baker's 15 points.­­

Ten of Baker's 15 came in the fourth quarter, when the Bears were able to pull away the most, including a stint early in the fourth quarter where she scored five straight to break a 44-44 tie.

Point Park was able to hang around as long as they did thanks to UPIKE's 21 turnovers in the game. Those 21 turnovers turned into 18 points for the Pioneers.

For the most part, despite Point Park's persistence to stick around, UPIKE held the lead for the entire second half and led by as much as 10 in the second quarter. However, Point Park closed the half with a 1:22 long, 6-0 run to cut the halftime lead to 27-24.

The two teams traded leads for most of the third quarter, and the score was tied as late as 40-40 with 8:52 left in the game; but with just over five minutes to go, the Bears went on a 5-0 run to put UPIKE ahead for good. Four straight of those points were part of Kayla Mullins' 12 point, six rebound day.

The final nails in the coffin were free throws from Baker and Englert in the final minute. Englert has now either led or tied for the lead in all three of UPIKE's games this season despite not starting in any of the three. She has asserted herself as the sharpshooting ace of the team and showed that skill off again Friday, drilling three of her five attempts from beyond-the-arc.

Meanwhile, Baker's performances have almost been lost in the mist because of Englert's shooting, but she has also been a consistent force for the Bears with her second straight game in double figures.

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UPIKE returns tomorrow with a noon matchup with Bluefield at the East Kentucky Expo Center.

-UPIKE-