RIO GRANDE, Ohio – It started out well for the University of Pikeville women, but a scoreless 10-minute stretch in the middle of the first half was more than it could overcome in a 83-53 loss to Grace (Ind.) College.  

The first-round game of the NAIA women's basketball tournament ended No. 5 UPIKE's season at 21-9. No. 12 Grace will play for the right to advance to the Sweet 16 on Wednesday when it plays No. 4 Rio Grande.  

Early on, things were going the way of the Bears. Trailing 4-2, a 9-1 run gave them a comfortable lead. It started with a free throw by Sierra Feltner, who hit an elbow jumper after freshman Allie Stone sank a jumper from 18-feet out for a 7-4 lead.  

After a free throw by junior Karlee Feldman stopped it briefly, the Bears got back-to-back buckets by senior Bailey Frazier and Stone to take an 11-5 lead with 4:56 left in the opening period. 

But then, things completely stopped working for the Bears. Over the next 10 minutes, the Lancers went on a 24-0 run that saw the Bears miss 14 consecutive shots after opening by hitting 5-of-7 early on.  

The Lancers continued pounding the ball inside during the run, scoring the last 11 of the first period to take a 16-11 lead before counting the first 13 of the second frame.  

A three-point play by grad student Mary Englert mercifully ended the run exactly 10 minutes after it started, cutting the deficit to 29-14 with 4:56 left in the half.  

By intermission, the Grace lead was 41-19.  

In the third quarter, the Bears got as close as 15 on three different occasions, including at 55-40 with 55 seconds left, but it got no closer.  

The Bears finished 21-of-69 (30.4 percent) from the field and made only 3-of-20 from the outside. True to form, though, they committed only six turnovers while forcing 19 from the Lancers.  

Stone led the way with 16 points. Frazier joined her in double figures with 13.  

The trio of Englert, Feltner and Hailey Free, playing in their final game, finished with seven points apiece. Englert and Feltner led the team with six rebounds apiece.  

Feldman and junior Kierston Findley led Grace with 16 points each, with Feldman adding a dozen rebounds. Junior Kaylee Patton followed with 14.  

The Bears played their final three games of the season without all-conference center Morgan Stamper, who is recovering from season-ending surgery.  

--UPIKE--