Pulaski, TN – UPIKE women's basketball hit the road for MSC action Thursday evening, taking on Martin Methodist in a hard-fought battle that handed the Bears their first loss of the season. The majority of the matchup was played within five points, with Martin Methodist edging out the 65-55 victory in the final minutes.

The loss drops the Bears to 3-1 on the season while the RedHawks record their first win of the 2020-21 campaign.

Sierra Feltner's performance highlighted the scoring attack for the Bears as the junior notched a career high 21 points. Feltner connected on eight of 12 attempts including an 80% clip from beyond the arc.

Brianna Burbridge recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. The recent 1,000 point club inductee shot 50% from the field on 6-12.

UPIKE hit on 21 of 55 attempts from the field, going 33% from the three point line. The Bears once again claimed the rebound battle, with 43 boards to the RedHawks 34.

Martin Methodist got out to a hot start to begin the contest, scoring eight unanswered points thanks to solid play on the interior. The Bears roared back after four minutes played, as Sierra Feltner sparked the scoring effort with her first three of the ballgame followed by a layup on the next possession by Burbridge. With 5:51 left in the opening period, Feltner drilled her second trey of the ballgame to make it 8-8. The RedHawks would regain the lead in the following minutes with the Bears close behind as Morgan Stamper laid one in with 0:26 remaining to bring UPIKE within two.

The second quarter followed suit, with Martin Methodist scoring the first two buckets to take a 21-14 lead less than a minute into the period. UPIKE trailed by as much as nine points midway through the quarter before a two pointer by Fatma Ouinet jumpstarted a 10-2 Bears run that lasted four minutes. The impressive surge was capped off by another three from Feltner which gave the Bears a 28-27 lead with 2:34 to go. Both teams capatlized a handful of times from the free throw line in the waning minutes of the half and with 0:07 to go, Martin Methodist's Addie Baird came up big with a three making it 34-34 heading into the break.

The third quarter was largely a defensive battle, with both teams struggling for easy baskets. UPIKE's first score of the period came on an and-one from Feltner who splashed the free throw to bring the Bears within one point. With 5:58 to go, Feltner strong-armed a defensive rebound, going coast-to-coast for a layup on the other end as the Bears took their first lead of the quarter to make it 39-38. Mary Englert and Burbridge would connect on the following UPIKE possessions, increasing the Bears lead to five. To end the quarter, Martin Methodist would tie the game once more with two buckets as the teams went into the final period locked at 47.

Three and a half minutes into the fourth quarter, both teams bad scored only once as the game continued to showcase defensive talent on both ends of the floor. With 4:18 to play, UPIKE gained some cushion in the form of a three pointer from Feltner, who secured a four point lead for the Bears. Both teams continued to battle back as Martin Methodist answered three straight baskets to take a 58-55 lead with less than three minutes to play. The RedHawks held the Bears scoreless in the final minutes, scoring seven more to secure the 65-55 win.

UPIKE women's basketball will return to action on Saturday, December 5^th against Bethel. The battle between the Bears and Wildcats is slated for 1:30 in McKenzie, TN.