Crestview Hills, KY – Following a 12 day break, UPIKE women's basketball took to the hardwood Thursday for a New Years Eve battle against Thomas More. The Bears were plagued with turnovers facing a solid defensive attack from the Saints and were defeated 67-51.

UPIKE had just one player with double figures in the scoring column as Morgan Stamper led the Bears with 10 points. Stamper recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Both Sierra Feltner and Bailey Frazier dropped eight points in the loss.

The first quarter was slow as the teams struggled to get a spark offensively until UPIKE got their first bucket of the game via Morgan Stamper at the 6:14 mark. Scoring remained scarce with offensive rebounds being a highlight for both teams, with 2:29 to go the teams had combined for just 11 points. The clock winded down to zero with Thomas More holding a 9-6 lead.

With 7:00 to go in the third, Stamper made a tough drive to score and draw the foul, ultimately hitting the free throw to make it a two-possession game. Another big possession came with just under 4:30 as Alexis Reed drained a deep three to bring the Bears closer as Thomas More led 38-34. Turnovers plagued the UPIKE offensive attack as the Saints extended their lead to as much as 11 with under two minutes to go in the third. After a last second three-pointer, Thomas More took hold of a 51-38 lead headed into the final period.

Mary Englert and Frazier managed buckets early on in the fourth but Thomas More maintained the offensive pressure and continued to stretch their lead. UPIKE stayed at pace with the Saints for the majority of the quarter but were unable to make up the deficit and fell 67-51.

The loss drops the Bears to 6-3 overall with a conference mark of 2-3. UPIKE women's basketball will return to action Monday, January 4th on the road against University of the Cumberlands. Tip-off from Randy Vernon Court is slated for 5:30 PM.