INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Pikeville women's basketball team opened the 2025-26 season with a 89-45 loss at No. 5 Marian University.
 
The Bears went to the half trailing Marian 39-26, but the Knights scored the first 21 points of the third quarter to go up 60-26 before freshman Halle Collins sank two free throws with 3:09 left in the period.
 
The Knights outscored UPike 31-11 in the quarter as part of a 50-19 second half.  
 
Collins led the Bears with 16 points in her first collegiate game. She also had four rebounds.
 
Allie Stone began her senior season with 14 points. Freshman Anika Stehbens just missed double digits with nine points.
 
Shooting was an issue for the Bears all day, as they hit only 33.9 percent (19 of 56) and 1 for 12 from the arc. To further complicate things, they hit only 6 of 12 from the line.
 
Marian had no such issues, sinking 63.2 percent from the floor and 8 of 16 from the arc.
 
UPike, which outrebounded Marshall University last Saturday in the team's final exhibition, was beat on the glass 32-28. Senior Jaidy Mejia-Andrade led the way with seven.
 
Marian put three players in double figures, led by Kiley McNally with 18. She also led the team with five rebounds.
 
Madisyn Bailey followed with 11, while Zoe Wheeler added 10.
 
The Bears are now off until Nov. 12 when they begin AAC play. They host Bluefield (Va.) University at 5:30 p.m. at Appalachian Wireless Arena.