UPIKE Athletics

BLUEFIELD, Va. – The University of Pikeville used an early 18-0 run to move its win streak to seven with an 89-51 win at Bluefield College on Tuesday night.
 
The win moved UPike to 9-2 on the season and 7-2 in the AAC. The Rams fell to 2-12 and 2-8 with their fourth straight loss.
 
Bluefield took what proved to be its only lead of the game at 6-4 on a layup by junior Gabby Nelson before the Bears ran off 18 unanswered points to take control of the contest.
 
In the 18-point stretch, six different Bears scored. Senior Morgan Stamper had seven, including a three-point play, and it ended with consecutive layins by senior Bailey Birchfield.
 
The run lasted 5:01 and when it ended, the Bears were on top 22-6.
 
The Bears led 27-10 after a period and 55-20 at the break.
 
All 11 players who saw action scored for UPike, which was led by freshman Rachel Bush with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting. She also had eight rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocked shots.
 
Senior Morgan Stamper continued her monster stretch, scoring 13 points but grabbing a career best 23 rebounds in 26 minutes, nine of which were off the offensive glass. She had 21 rebounds last Wednesday in a win over St. Andrews.
 
Behind Stamper and Bush, the Bears dominated the rebounding battle 55-22.
 
Senior Bailey Birchfield came off the bench to fire in 16 points, 14 of which came in the first half.
 
Bluefield was led by junior Haley Smith and sophomore Tamera Maple, who had 13 points each. Smith added eight rebounds to pace the Rams.
 
Junior Destiny Long had 10 points.
 
The Bears will step out of league play on Saturday afternoon when they host Lindsey Wilson College. The game, scheduled for Appalachian Wireless Arena, will begin at 2 p.m.