McKenzie, TN – Saturday afternoon saw women's basketball wrap up the 2021-22 regular season schedule with a 60-50 loss to (RV) Bethel. The Bears finish at 17-12 (11-11 MSC), placing them sixth in the MSC rankings ahead of next week's conference tournament.

Leading the way offensively with an 11-point outing where she hit three of seven threes. Englert played 31 minutes and snagged four rebounds and a pair of steals. Both Alexis Reed and Leeanna McNulty finished with nine points with the latter also grabbing five boards.

Despite losing the rebounding battle which is uncharacteristic of this year's team, the Bears still managed to score 10 on second chance points. UPIKE shot a dismal 23% from the field but connected on 83.3% from the free throw line.

From the jump Bethel had the hot hand, launching an 8-0 run over the first four minutes of play. The Bears fought back and thanks in part to a triple from Reed, trailed by five heading into the second quarter.
McNulty dropped in three points followed by a pair of free throws from Stamper as the Bears made it a one point ballgame with 9:39 to go in the half. An Englert three gave the Bears their first lead on the next possession. The squads traded baskets for the remainder of the half but Bethel took a 26-22 lead into the break.

The Wildcats outscored the Bears 19-14 in the third quarter and took a commanding 45-36 lead into the final 10:00. Morgan Stamper brought the Bears to as close as five points but Bethel pulled away in the final five minutes of action to seal the win.

Holding the tiebreaker over Freed Hardeman, the Bears will take the sixth seed in the conference tournament. Opening round play will see the Bears take on Shawnee State on Monday, February 28^th in Pikeville, KY. Tip-off from the UPIKE Gym is set for 6:00 PM.