McKenzie, Tenn. - The UPIKE Bears capped off their two-game road trip to west Tennessee with a 63-55 win at Bethel, moving their record to 3-2 (2-1 MSC). 

Sierra Feltner nailed a three-pointer just 13 seconds into the game to get the Bears offense rolling. Bailey Fraizer caught fire in the first quarter, going 3-3 from beyond the arc and leading the Bears with nine points in the first stanza. Sheridan Robbins had five points in the final 51 seconds of the first to put a little distance between the Bears and Wildcats. Feltner finished the first with seven points and the Bears led 23-17 after one. 

UPIKE's defense smothered the Wildcats in the second quarter, allowing Bethel to score just nine points. The Bears held the Wildcats to just two points in the first 5:45 of the second quarter, during which the Bears went on a 7-2 run to go up 30-19. Bethel cut the lead to nine before the half with UPIKE ahead 35-26. The Bears held the Wildcats to shooting 15% from the field and out-rebounded the Wildcats 10-6 in the second quarter. 

After Morgan Stamper made an early free throw to go up 36-26, UPIKE went on a six-minute scoring drought in the third quarter. During that scoreless stretch, Bethel went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. A three-pointer by Bears' freshman Allie Stone put the Bears back on top at 39-37, but the lead would not hold long. The Bears found themselves trailing by one heading into the fourth quarter. 

The Bears and Wildcats traded points early on in the fourth until Bethel held a 50-49 lead with 4:37 left. After that point, Sierra Feltner and the Bears' free throw shooters took over. Feltner had seven of the Bears' final 13 points, including a defensive rebound and a layup to put the Bears up eight with 1:35 left. Feltner and Bailey Frazier would ice the game at the free throw line and UPIKE won 63-55. Feltner had seven points, two rebounds and a block in the fourth quarter while Morgan Stamper had five points. Frazier and Mary Englert had four points each in the final frame and were a combined 6-8 from the free throw line. 

The Bears were led in scoring by Sierra Feltner with 16 points, followed by Bailey Frazier with 13 and Morgan Stamper with 12. Frazier led UPIKE with seven rebounds and had two steals. As a team, the Bears shot 38% from the field and 33% from three.

After a three-game road stint, the Bears will return home to the Appalachian Wireless Arena this Tuesday night to take on Shawnee State in the battle of the Bears. 

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