PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- UPIKE women's basketball drew a tough task in facing the No. 8 team in the nation in its conference opener, and Shawnee State performed as such on Saturday. Shawnee State led wire-to-wire, eventually taking the 81-58 victory.

Pikeville struggled to get any momentum going early in the game against the stifling Shawnee defense. The Bears missed their first five shots, and coupled with four turnovers, SSU marched out to a 16-2 lead early.

UPIKE woke up a bit after that, but still went into halftime with a 47-19 lead. However, the Bears really came alive after halftime when they opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run. Pikeville ended up winning the third quarter 19-13 and that came in large part thanks to the massive spark Brianna Burbridge provided off the bench.

Burbridge scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in the third quarter alone, and ended up earning her third career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. It was her first double-double since her freshman year.

Shelbi Knauer hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to a low point of 18 in the third quarter, but it would balloon back out in the fourth quarter up to 30 points. By the end of the game, Pikeville would cut the final margin down to 24 and would outscore Shawnee State in the second half, 39-34.

The Bears move to 11-6 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. They will begin a three-game homestand on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. against Life (Ga.) in the East Kentucky Expo Center.

-UPIKE-