COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of Pikeville outscored Columbia College in all four quarters en route to an 81-63 win on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bears are now 8-5 on the season but most importantly they improved to 7-2 in the Appalachian Athletics Conference. Columbia fell for only the second time in 15 outings this season and is 6-2 in the league.
 
The Koalas jumped out to a 7-2 lead on the strength of two three-point baskets by Keyshuna Fair.
 
UPike then scored 12 of the next 15 points to take the lead. Five different Bears contributed in the stretch, and when Allie Stone hit a jumper with 2:57 left the guests led 14-10.
 
A three-point play by Tysonia Lowe with 2:20 to play pulled the Koalas within one, but the Bears went on another run, this time 12-2, to take control.
 
Jaaliyah Warren closed out the first period with a pair of three-point shots before her team scored six of the first eight of the second period. Another Stone jumper with 6:07 made it 26-15 with 6:07 left in the half.
 
The Bears led 41-29 at the half. Columbia pulled within nine on two different occasions in the third quarter before it ended with a layup by Paige Ayler and a three-point shot by Alexis Moore ended the frame with the Bears on top 60-46.
 
The lead grew to as many as 23 (70-47) midway through the fourth before the difference settled at 18.
 
UPike was hot from all three levels on Saturday, hitting 49.2 percent overall, 43.3 percent from the arc and sinking 80 percent of its free throws. Meanwhile, Columbia was not, with a slash line of 33.9/25.0/56.3.
 
Stone not only led the team with 25 points but also had seven assists, six rebounds and a pair of steals. Sophomore Rachel Bush had 21 markers and led the team with nine rebounds.
 
Warren came off the bench for 14 points and five rebounds.
 
Columbia got 20 points apiece from Fair and Lowe, while Makayla Street had eight points, 11 rebounds and four steals for the Koalas.
 
UPike is scheduled to be back in action on Tuesday, hosting Bluefield (Va.) University at 5:30 p.m. at the Appalachian Wireless Arena.