PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- For just the second time in program history, UPIKE women's basketball were the victors over No. 12 Shawnee State, defeating the Bears 85-76 on Thursday.

It was the first time UPIKE has defeated Shawnee since February 2011, and is the Bears' second consecutive win over a ranked opponent, also defeating then-No. 20 Lindsey Wilson last Thursday.

Alexis Reed and Kayla Mullins helped push back Shawnee's comeback attempt with 11 of UPIKE's final 16 points. Reed scored eight of her 11 points in the fourth quarter, including going 7 of 8 from the free throw stripe. Meanwhile, Mullins hit three huge 3-pointers and even blocked a long-distance shot in the fourth quarter.

Unlike last Thursday's win, UPIKE was ahead for the vast majority of the game after an early gut punch. Shawnee State marched out to an 12-4 lead to open the game.

However, that lead was quickly erased after Pikeville went on 18-0 run to get a 10-point lead. 13 of those 18 points came from the hands of Mary Englert, who scored 16 points in the first quarter. Englert had 21 points overall to lead all scorers, while adding seven rebounds and four assists.

UPIKE would not squander its lead from the second it first earned it. That lead would balloon as large as 15 points after Brianna Burbridge took over in the second quarter. The sophomore earned her seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Mia Greatrex joined Burbridge as the forwards in double-figures with 11 points and five rebounds.

Shawnee State continued to chip away at that lead through the second half, eventually getting UPIKE's lead down to two points, but it was all for naught.

With the win, UPIKE currently sits in a tie for second with Lindsey Wilson, while Shawnee State can join that tie with a win Saturday at Cumberland. LWC and UPIKE are both idle on Saturday.

UP NEXT

UPIKE will have the weekend off before a crucial final week, going to Georgetown on Thursday, then hosting No. 3 Campbellsville on Saturday for senior night.

-UPIKE-