PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Four players reached double figures for the No. 25 University of Pikeville women's basketball team as it knocked off the number one team in the country, Thomas More University, 71-68 Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale. 

Pikeville improved to 21-7 overall and 16-6 against Mid-South Conference competition, with the Saints fell to 26-2 overall, 20-2 in the league.  

Pikeville's win brought it to a tie for third place in the league standings with Cumberlands, but also gave it the tie-breaker because the Bears have now beaten a higher-seeded team than did the Patriots. They await the winner of a play-in game and will play next on Thursday in Bowling Green.  

The loss for Thomas More, combined with a Campbellsville win over Cumberlands on Saturday, means the Saints will be seeded second in next week's conference tournament in Bowling Green.  

The Bears led 69-66 with 52 seconds left after graduate student Sierra Feltner sank a free throw. Thomas More quickly closed it to one on a layup by Rachel Martin seven seconds later.  

The Bears failed to score on its ensuing possession, leaving the door open for TMU. However, the Saints missed on a layup which was rebounded by senior Bailey Frazier. It was her 12th rebound of the game and a foul sent her to the line for two free throws with five seconds later.  

The Wise, Va., native calmly sank both tosses to finish with 17 points in the double-double. Thomas More brought the ball down the court and attempted a last-second shot, which was only for two, but missed it as the Bears rebounded for the win.  

Grad student Mary Englert led the Bears with 19 points while pulling down seven rebounds of her own. Freshman Allie Stone followed with 14, while Feltner flipped in 11 and added six assists.  

Zole Barth was the only Saint in double figures with 27 points. She did so thanks to hitting 12-of-12 from the free-throw line.  

Three teammates – Martin, Courtney Hurst and Emily Simon – finished with nine points each.  

--UPIKE—