HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The University of Pikeville women's basketball team closed out exhibition play on Saturday afternoon with what is becoming its annual meeting with Sun Belt Conference member Marshall University.
 
The Thundering Herd picked up an 84-52 win over the Bears.
 
"This is a perfect lead in to our season, because we don't play any bye games," said Coach Clifton Williams, who is beginning his 10^th season at the helm of the Bears, who open the regular season next Saturday at  No. 5 Marian (Ind.). "We appreciate Marshall and all their hospitality.
 
"We learned a lot about our team today. We needed this and liked a lot of what we saw. We're going to be fine this season."
 
The Bears started strong, building to a three-point lead late in the first quarter. Consecutive baskets by senior Jaidy Mejia-Andrade and junior Rachel Bush tied the game at 4-4 with 7:37 left in the period.
 
A layup by Timberlynn Yeast with 3:04 remaining put the Herd on top 14-11 before the Bears scored six straight.
 
They came on consecutive jumpers by freshman Kyra McAlarnis, Bush and senior Allie Stone to put UPike on top 17-14 with 46 seconds left. A three by Olivia Olson tied the game after one period at 17-17.
 
The second quarter was a different story. Marshall was 10 of 19 from the field while the Bears managed only 10 shot attempts, hitting four of them. The Herd took a 43-27 lead to the half.
 
Freshman Anika Stebhens stood out in the second, scoring six of UPike's 10 points.
 
While the Herd outscored the Bears 27-15, Stone flexed her muscles. She hit all four jumpers and all three free throws, tossing in 11 of her team's points.
 
Stone, the reigning AAC player of the year, led the Bears with 18 points, shooting 7 of 9 from the floor and hitting 1 of 2 from the arc. As is her normal pattern, she sank all three free throw tries.
 
Mejia-Andrade joined her in double figures with 10 points thanks to 4-of-6 shooting. She also had four rebounds.
 
The Bears won the rebounding battle with the Thundering Herd 36-35. Freshman Halle Collins, who had four points, led UPike with nine rebounds.