Portsmouth, Ohio - UPIKE's comeback bid fell short Saturday afternoon, with Shawnee State winning 86-81 in the Battle of the Bears. 

Freshman Allie Stone, who had eight first quarter points, hit a jump shot to open the scoring in this one. The UPIKE lead did not last, but SSU never led by more than five in the first quarter. Late in the first, Stone hit a three to cut the Shawnee lead to 17-16. Bailey Frazier, who tied with Mary Englert for three first quarter points each, led UPIKE with five rebounds. After one quarter, Shawnee State led 20-16. In the second quarter, Shawnee outscored UPIKE 34-8 and took a 54-24 lead into the halftime break.

 After being outscored by 26 in the second, UPIKE roared back and outscored SSU 34-11 in the third quarter. Six different Bears scored in the third quarter, led by Bailey Frazier with 12 points. Frazier and Allie Stone were a combined 6-6 from beyond the arc and UPIKE shot 77% from the field. Over the first 7:40 of the third, UPIKE outscored Shawnee 30-5. SSU led 65-58 heading into the final quarter. 

Shawnee took an early nine point lead in the fourth but UPIKE continued to chip away at the lead. Bailey Frazier made a layup to cut the Shawnee lead to just one with 3:46 left. Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Bears would get. Shawnee State put the game away at the free throw line and won this one 86-81.

Allie Stone led UPIKE with 24 points and shot 6-9 from beyond the arc. Stone also tied with Mary Englert with three steals. Englert also finished with a game-high ten assists. Bailey Frazier scored a career-high 23 points and led UPIKE with nine rebounds. Frazier shot 9-13 from the field and 4-7 from beyond the arc. 

The Bears have now lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, and their record now drops to 18-6 (13-5 MSC). Coach Clifton Williams' squad will look to bounce back this upcoming Thursday when the Bears take on Lindsey Wilson at the UPIKE Gym. 

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