INDIANAPOLIS – Senior forward Morgan Stamper scored a season-high 25 points as the 2023-24 season ended for the University of Pikeville with an 84-69 loss to Stephens (Mo.) College in the opening round of the NAIA national tournament on Friday night.
 
Stamper added 13 rebounds in the game, giving her 19 double-doubles this season and a school record 55 for her career. She wrapped up her career with 1,238 points and 1,252 rebounds.
 
The teams battled for six minutes with neither leading by more than a basket, and an India Blyth free throw with 3:41 left in the first tied the game at 14. But the Stars had the first extended run of the game, scoring the next eight points.
 
The first six came from Arthel Massaquoi, and when Mia Morel scored with 1:18 left, the Stars led 22-14.
 
After a period, the Bears trailed 24-18.
 
The Stars scored on a layup by Savanna Crockett to take a 30-24 lead with 7:57 left in the half, but the Bears were quick to respond. Allie Stone nailed two free throws before the Bears found Bailey Frazier open in the corner for a three to pull within one, 30-29, with 7:00 to play.
 
The Stars led 35-31 before the Bears went on a run to turn it around before the half. Stamper and Stone made free throws before Jaidy Mejia-Andrade tied it with a jumper. Stone nailed two more free throws and then beat the shot clock with a runner in the paint, and the Bears found themselves in front 39-35 with 1:23 left.
 
At the half, the lead was 41-38.
 
The Bears came out of the break and quickly got it inside where Stamper scored to extend the lead to five. But Stephens then turned the game around.
 
The Stars scored 10 straight, needing 1:39 to do so, and when Marveen Ross hit a jumper with 5:09 to play in the third, the Bears trailed 52-45.
 
The teams went to the final period with Stephens holding a 61-54 lead.
 
Unfortunately for the Bears, it got no better. Stone hit a jumper with 8:51 to cut the deficit to 63-58, but the Stars scored the next eight, and when Ross scored inside with 7:08 left, the lead ballooned to 13, 71-58.
 
The Bears would get no closer.
 
Stamper was joined in double figures by Stone with 21.
 
Frazier, a graduate student, scored five points while pulling down four rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. She finished her career with 1,252 points.
 
Stephens was led by Alayasia Douglas with 24 points. She added four steals. Three teammates joined her in double figures, as Ross flipped in 22, Crockett 15 and Massaquoi 12.