Pikeville, KY – UPIKE women's basketball closed the 2021-22 season in dramatic fashion Saturday evening in a overtime thriller with Bryan College. The Bears battled back from trailing in the first half to take the lead several times but the Lion's attack from the perimeter was persistent as they took the 90-86 victory in overtime.
Sierra Feltner delivered an incredible career-high effort, finishing with 32 points on 14-26 from the floor. Feltner's speed and toughness allowed her to take over the game in the second half, flushing back-to-back threes at one point as the Bears climbed back into the game.
Bailey Frazier and
Mary Englert were key factors in the second half comeback as well, combining for 32 points. Englert dropped 15 points and nine rebounds, shooting a clean 5-6 from the charity stripe. Frazier offered up a 17-point performance that also included nine rebounds.
In the opening quarter, the contest looked lopsided in favor of Bryan College who shot a clean 50% from the floor and drained five threes. The Lions held the Bears to just 5-21 from the floor in the opening period, taking a 24-12 lead.
UPIKE fought back in the second and almost matched the Lions, trailing 44-32 heading into the break.
Coming out of the third quarter, adjustments were evident as the Bears fought their way back into the game. With 3:16 left, the unit launched a 9-2 run that saw them tie the game headed into the final quarter.
LeeAnna McNulty dropped in a layup with 5:51 to go in the game which gave the Bears their first lead. The Bears led by as much as three as the two teams battled possession by possession in the final minutes. A layup with 0:08 left from the Lions tied the game, forcing over time.
Overtime continued the back and forth developed in the fourth, seeing Bryan take tie the game twice. Feltner continued her takeover of the game, scoring eight points in the period. In the end it came down to a three pointer by the Lions, a foul call on the Bears and a missed three for UPIKE which allowed the Lions to take the winning free throws.
Bryan will move on to the round of 16 in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bears wrap up the 2021-22 campaign with a record of 19-14 (11-11 MSC).
