Lake Wales, Fla. - Coach Clifton Williams' UPIKE Bears downed the Warner University Royals 70-55 Saturday afternoon behind a strong defensive effort and a big day from Mary Englert.
Warner opened up the game with a layup just 16 seconds in but Allie Stone answered with a jumper on the other end. On the Bears' next possession, Mary Englert hit a jumper to give the Bears a lead they would hold onto until the end of the game. UPIKE held the Royals to just 35% shooting and led 20-10 after one. Englert and Allie Stone had six points each and Morgan Stamper had four points and five rebounds.
UPIKE's offense got off to a slow start in the second quarter, going scoreless through the first 2:34. Allie Stone ended the drought with a pair of free throws to go up 22-14. Later on, the Royals applied a pressure by cutting the UPIKE lead to 26-20. Mary Englert then scored seven straight points to put the Bears up 13 with just under two minutes until halftime. The Bears went to the locker room up 35-24, led by Mary Englert who had 11 of the Bears' 15 second quarter points and 17 of the Bears' 35 first half points.
In the third quarter, the Royals went on a 12-4 run over the first four minutes and cut the UPIKE lead to 39-36. The Bears pulled away, going on a 7-0 and held the Royals scoreless for almost five minutes during the third quarter. Mary Englert hit a free throw late in the third to put the Bears up 49-40 heading into the final frame. Morgan Stamper had six points and four rebounds in the third.
The Bears opened the final quarter on a 6-0 run to go up 55-40 while holding the Royals scoreless through the first 2:37 of the fourth. UPIKE shot 50% in the fourth while holding the Royals to just 38% and led by as many as 18. The Royals went on a 9-0 late in the quarter but the Bears went on to take this one 70-55.
Mary Englert scored a season-high 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Allie Stone had 17 points off 7-9 shooting while Morgan Stamper had 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Stamper also had four assists, just behind Hailey Free who recorded five assists. As a team, the Bears out-rebounded Warner 40-29 and held the Royals to shooting 37% from the field. After Mary Englert's made jumper at the 7:57 mark of the first quarter, UPIKE never trailed again and led for 37:57 of 40:00 during today's game.
Saturday afternoon's win over Warner is the Bears second in a row and third win in their last four games. UPIKE's record now stands at 8-4 (5-3 MSC). The Bears will stay in the Sunshine State for tomorrow's matchup against Webber International at 2 PM.
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