Pikeville, KY – UPIKE women's basketball earned their second straight win in a fierce overtime battle with the RedHawks of Martin Methodist on Saturday afternoon. The Bears dominated in the five minutes of overtime to secure the 84-77 victory. 

\Not surprisingly, BriAnna Burbridge was a human highlight on Saturday, coming up big when it mattered most for the Bears. Burbridge notched her 11^th double-double of the season with 23 points and 17 rebounds, also going a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line. Guard Alexis Reed delivered as well, using her 28 minutes of action to contribute 20 points on 5-9 from the floor and 8-13 from the charity stripe. 

UPIKE played 90% percent of Saturday's contest within one possession of the RedHawks, only outscored by two in the opening period. The Bears performed best in the third period, beating Martin Methodist 26-22 in that 10 minute span. Overtime belonged to UPIKE as well, scoring 15 points in five minutes to Martin's 8.  

The Bears managed a quick lead in the first period, led off by back to back buckets from Mary Englert and then by Sierra Feltner as they established a 6-4 lead. There would be three more lead changes in the period, with the RedHawks clinging on to a slight advantage headed into the second quarter.  

Martin Methodist opened up the second quarter with a paced offense that quickly put up four unanswered on the Bears to take a 17-12 lead. Julia Parker made the RedHawk lead short lived when she loaded up and drilled a three at the 7:16 mark to make it a one possession game once more. The Bears struggled to overcome the small lead but remained very much in the ballgame, tying the contest at 21 at the halfway point of the quarter. Martin Methodist extended their lead to as much as 11 but in the final minute the
Bears surged on two straight possessions to come within two before the break.  

Burbridged enforced her will at the 7:49 mark in the third, driving through contact to score and get the and-one at the free throw line to tie the game at 32 all. The next UPIKE lead came thanks to Alexis Reed who splashed another timely trey with 4:33 to go making it 45-43 Bears. The Bears would not trail for the remainder of the period.  

The fourth quarter was as intense as it was strategic with both teams jockeying back and forth for a one possession advantage. The quarter included six ties and several lead changes, with neither team able to hold on to a lead at the buzzer, sending the Bears and RedHawks to OT. 

UPIKE thrived in overtime, as Reed and Zaria Hollier started off the offense with a pair of buckets to set the tone. The RedHawks wouldn't lay down though, and tied the contest at 75 with 1:51 left after a timely three pointer. Following that possession, UPIKE took advantage of mistakes from Martin Methodist and dropped an impressive nine free throws to secure the win. 

UPIKE women's basketball will be on the road for their next three contests, starting with a matchup against Campbellsville on Thursday, January 28^th.