Bears upset No. 15 Talladega to finish perfect weekend

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- Fresh off a strong win last night, UPIKE turned around about 14 hours later and pulled off its best win of the season, upsetting No. 15 Talladega, 65-64.

The win is UPIKE's first since defeating then No. 11 Bethel last season.

UPIKE (10-2) was able to stun the Tornadoes with its stifling defense, holding the No. 11 scoring offense in the NAIA to just 30.7 percent shooting from the floor. 

Talladega (12-2) came into the game with two of the most dynamic players in the country in Diamond Jolly and Brijanee Moore, and the Bears limited them to just 9-27 shooting combined. Even further, the rest of the team made just 14 shots through the entire game.

Unlike most upsets, no one player dominated the game for the Bears in what was truly a team effort. Mary Englert, Alexis Reed, and Brianna Burbridge all scored in double figures with 15, 13, and 12 points respectively. Kayla Mullins was just behind them with nine points of her own.

The two teams were about as equally matched as possible as marked by the eight ties and 15 lead changes in the game. Neither lead had a lead larger than seven points in the game.

UPIKE entered the fourth quarter with a one-point lead, which eventually grew to seven after the Englert scored eight straight points. However, the Tornadoes turned to Jolly and Rosa Reynaud who immediately launched an 8-0 run of their own to retake the lead.

The lead changed hands three more times in the final two minutes, twice in Pikeville's favor on short jumpers from Reed. Her second jumper gave the Bears a one-point lead with seven seconds to go.

After a timeout, Reed's defense suffocated Moore into a controversial travel. On the corresponding possession, the Tornadoes fouled Theodora Odia whose two free throws hit every part of the bucket except the bottom of the net.

It was then once again Reed's defense that contested Moore's buzzer-beater attempt and sealed the win for UPIKE. 

UP NEXT

After competing in Shawnee State's tournament, the Bears will have over a week off for finals before hosting its final tournament, the Walters Auto Group Classic on Dec. 18 and 19. UPIKE will face St. Francis (Ind.) on the 18th, and Marian (Ind.) on the 19th.

-UPIKE-