BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville women's basketball team got its season off to a flying start with a 105-50 win over the homestanding Union Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
 
The game doubled as UPike's debut in the Appalachian Athletics Conference. Tuesday's was the first of 22 league games this season for the Bears, who were picked as the co-favorites in their new league.
 
UPike forced Union into 40 turnovers while committing only eight of its own. Because of that, the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 57-6 in points off turnovers.
 
The Bears saw their lead cut to 7-6 with 6:29 left when senior McKenzi Himes scored on a layup. But that was followed by 10 straight for the guests.
 
All five baskets came on layups as the Bears flexed their muscles on the inside. It began with a basketball by sophomore Alexus Moore. After freshman Rachel Bush scored, Moore connected again.
 
That was followed by consecutive layins by sophomore Jaidy Mejia-Andrade to push the lead to 17-6 with 3:39 left.
 
After a period, the lead was 22-12.
 
The lead was 25-17 before sophomore India Blyth head up. Consecutive three-pointers made it 31-17 with 6:38 left. Union got it to 11, 39-28, before Blyth keyed another UPike run. She had a layup and a pair of free throws before sophomore Allie Stone nailed a three to make it 46-28 with 35 seconds left before the half.
 
At recess, the lead was 46-29.
 
Stone paced six Bears in double figures with 22 points. She was followed by graduate student Bailey Frazier's 14, thanks to going 4-of-6 from the arc.
 
Moore and Blyth followed with 13 markers each. Moore had six assists as well. Mejia-Andrade followed with a dozen and a team-high six rebounds. Morgan Stamper began her senior campaign with 10 and five rebounds.
 
Sophomore Madison Brady led the Bulldogs with 15 points and six rebounds. Himes finished with 12 and five.
 
The Bears will be back in action on Saturday for their home opener. It'll be another AAC game as Milligan (Tenn.) University comes to town for a 2 p.m. tip at the UPike Gym.