PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville ventured into the Appalachian Wireless Arena for the first time this season and left with a 70-55 win over Truett McConnell University on Saturday afternoon.
 
The win raised the Bears to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the AAC, enabling them to maintain a piece of the lead in the league standings. It was their fourth consecutive win.
 
Truett (4-6, 3-3) scored the first points of the game and led 5-2 after sophomore Mahalah Stewart nailed a three with 6:58 left.
 
But UPike responded with a three by junior India Blyth, and when sophomore Rachel Bush scored inside, UPike led 7-5 and while it was tied at seven, it never trailed again.
 
The lead grew to as much as 21, 66-45, with 2:42 left in the game before settling at 15.
 
Truett McConnell finished the first half having hit 10-of-19 from the floor but trailed 36-26. It made only 11-of-32 after the break and finished the game at 41.2 percent.
 
UPike, which leads the league in all three shooting categories, finished at 44.3 percent overall but was 10-of-25 from the arc for 40 percent.
 
Junior guard Allie Stone led all scorers with 16 points while handing out three assists. Blyth and Bush followed with 14 points apiece. Blyth was 4-of-7 from the arc.
 
Truett McConnell got 14 points each from sophomore Alexis Brewster and junior Destinee Lovejoy. Brewster had 11 rebounds to lead them on the glass.
 
UPike got a dozen boards from junior Jaidy Mejia-Andrade as it won the rebounding battle 35-31.
 
UPike will return to action on Tuesday night when it travels to Knoxville to play Johnson University. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.