Pulaski, Tenn. - The #21 UPIKE Bears extended their win streak to 12 games with a 72-55 win at UT-Southern Saturday afternoon.
UPIKE got off to a slow start offensively, falling behind 4-0 over the first 3:27. Bailey Frazier got the Bears on the board with a three-pointer. UT-Southern held the lead until the late stages of the first when Frazier connected again from three. Despite only shooting 33%, the Bears led 17-15 at the end of the first.
The second quarter between UT-Southern and UPIKE featured eight lead changes, including five in the final 3:29. Seven different Bears scored, led by Allie Stone with five points. Stone had 13 total first half points, including a three to put the Bears up 35-33 right before halftime.
UPIKE and UT-Southern traded points in the first few minutes of the third quarter. After the Firehawks cut the lead to 40-38 at the 8:28 mark, the Bears went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes. UPIKE, led by Mary Englert who had 11 points in the third quarter, stole the momentum from the Firehawks and took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Bears' smothered UT-Southern in the fourth quarter, holding them to just eight points and shooting 17% from the field. UT-Southern scored just three points over the first 6:33 of the fourth quarter. The Bears, meanwhile, led by as many as 19 in the final frame. Allie Stone put the finishing touches on this one with a pair of made free throws and the Bears won this one 72-55.
Freshman Allie Stone scored a season-high 26 points, including 6-9 from beyond the arc. Mary Englert had 17 points and five rebounds. Sierra Feltner led UPIKE with 10 rebounds and six assists. Morgan Stamper was second with eight rebounds but first with four offensive rebounds. The Bears held the Firehawks to shooting 34% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc.
Coach Clifton Williams' squad improves to 18-4 (13-3 MSC) following today's win over the Firehawks. Next up for the Bears is a showdown at the Appalachian Wireless Arena against the number three team in the nation, the Campbellsville University Tigers.
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