Pikeville, Ky. - After falling short last Saturday against #20 Rio Grande, the Bears bounced back tonight with a 63-54 exhibition win over the University of Charleston. 

Mary Englert got the scoring started with a layup 13 seconds into the game, then Bailey Frazier hit a three to give the Bears an early 5-2 lead. Later on, the Golden Eagles took a 10-7 lead and the Bears responded with a 6-2 run to close out the first quarter with a 13-12 lead. 

In the second, the Golden Eagles went on a 10-0 run after UPIKE took an 18-12 lead. Trailing 22-18, UPIKE went on a 13-0 to shift momentum before the half. Englert had back-to-back and-1 opportunities which swung the game six points. The Bears led 31-25 at the half. 

Midway through the third, the Bears found themselves up 37-31 after Englert made a layup. The Golden Eagles then went on a 7-2 run to get within one point but the Bears would not surrender the lead. A pair of free throws and a three-pointer by Bailey Frazier got the UPIKE lead back up to six heading into the fourth quarter. 

Leading 46-40 after three, Bailey Frazier connected twice from beyond the arc to open up the fourth quarter. Hannah Roberts hit from three to give the Bears a 55-43 lead with 6:16 left in the game. UPIKE's defense continued to lock the Golden Eagles down and only won the game 63-54. 

Bailey Frazier led UPIKE with 18 points tonight followed by Mary Englert with 12. Englert had three assists and three steals. Sierra Feltner also had three steals tonight and an excellent block that sent the UPIKE Gym into a frenzy. As a team, the Bears shot 44% from the field and were 34% from beyond the arc.  UPIKE held the Golden Eagles to shooting 36% from the field and only 17% from three. 

Next up for the Bears is a road matchup Friday evening with the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders. Friday night's game will be the Mid-South Conference opener for the Bears. 

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