WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – UPIKE women's basketball ended up on the short end of an intense overtime matchup on Thursday, falling to Cumberlands, 64-61.

Cumberlands erased what was as much as a nine-point deficit in the first half to win.

Although Cumberlands outshot Pikeville in the first half, the Bears still turned in a controlling effort thanks to a barrage of 3-pointers and turnovers.

Pikeville forced 11 turnovers in the game's first 20 minutes which resulted in nine points for the Bears. Overall, 22 turnovers forced is the third most by the Bears in a conference game this season.

The Bears built their largest lead of the game in the second quarter thanks to a 11-2 run that included back to back 3-pointers from Kayla Mullins, Hailey Free, and Mary Englert.

Free and Mullins were UPIKE's two leading scorers with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Patriots comeback effort was spearheaded by their twin sister centers, Vilma and Carla Covane. Both of the 6-foot-3 sisters recorded a double-double, with Vilma scoring 20 and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Carla scored 10 and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Their interior presence held UPIKE to 34.7 percent shooting in the second half.

Cumberlands fully erased the Bears' lead for the first time with 3:41 left in the game, but from there the lead flipped back and forth five times. Pikeville held a two-point lead with 17 second to go and got the stop it needed, but a turnover shortly after the rebound gave the Patriots the second chance they needed.

UC's Reagon Begole hit a running layup at the buzzer to force the extra period. From there, the Patriots depended on their size to close out the game.

UP NEXT

Pikeville gets the weekend off before beginning the second round of Mid-South Conference play at Thomas More next Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

-UPIKE-