BLUEFIELD, Va. – The University of Pikeville took a five-point lead into the half and turned it into a 75-50 win over Bluefield (Va.) University on Wednesday night.
 
The women led by as many as 27 before the Rams scored the final basket to trim it to 25, and have now won four straight games.
 
The difference in the game was a 7:39 stretch of the second half that saw the Bears score 21 unanswered points, turning a 41-35 advantage into a 62-35 lead with 8:17 left to play.
 
In the spurt, UPike was only 5 for 12 from the field and made 2 of 5 three-point shots. But they made 9 of 10 free throws to pull away. In the meantime, the Rams missed 12 consecutive shots and turned it over three times.
 
UPike (13-7 on the season, 12-4 in the AAC) got points from six different players in the stretch, led by sophomore Paige Ayler's five. It began with a three-point play by sophomore Rachel Bush, and when junior Allie Stone sank two free throws, the lead was 27 before the Rams could score again.
 
Stone and Bush were the only players in double figures in the win, but four other Bears finished with eight points. Stone tossed in 20 to go with five rebounds and four assists, while Bush flipped in 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
 
Junior Jaidy Mejia-Andrade, one of the players with eight points, pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Bears to a 43-25 advantage.
 
Senior Destiny Long led the Rams with 12 points and nine rebounds. Junior Ahmiah Jordan followed with 11 points.
 
Bluefield fell to 2-19 on the season and 2-15 in the league. It has now lost 13 straight games.
 
UPike will remain on the road, traveling to Athens, Tenn., on Saturday to play Tennessee Wesleyan. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.