GAINESVILLE, Ga. – A huge third period and some clutch play down the stretch enabled the University of Pikeville to bear Brenau University 60-58 on Saturday afternoon.
 
UPike (9-10, 8-3 in the AAC) outscored the Golden Tigers 18-6 coming out of halftime to turn a three-point deficit into a nine-point lead going into the final period.
 
Brenau (8-11, 3-8) rallied to take a brief one-point lead before the Bears answered with seven unanswered points to seal the win.
 
The Golden Tigers led 29-26 at the half and pushed it to 33-27 a minute in on a layup by Jael Flinn.
 
From there, the Bears went on a 19-2 run, all but one basket coming in the third period, to turn the game around. UPike went 8 for 12 from the field and held Brenau to 1 of 12 shooting in the span, which lasted 9:41.
 
Five Bears scored, a microcosm of the game for the guests, with freshman Anika Stehbens scoring five with sophomore Jaaliyah Warren and senior Jaidy Mejia-Andrade adding four each. Andrade's basket to open the fourth period ended the outburst with UPike leading 46-35.
 
Brenau, however, wasn't finished. It trailed 51-39 when sophomore Hazley Matthews scored on a layup with 7:05 left, and then scored 13 unanswered points to take the lead.
 
The Golden Tigers made all four shots and was 4 for 5 from the line, and when Sara Grace Bertolini sank two free throws with 3:56 left, Brenau's rally was complete with a 52-51 lead.
 
The Bears, however, maintained their composure and scored the next seven points. Again, three players contributed, with Stehbens scoring the final three to put UPike in front 58-52 with 1:31 left.
 
Mejia-Andrade scored 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the win, while  Stehbens led the way with 13. Warren was solid across the board with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
Caylie Long had 13 points to lead, while Bertolini scored 13 the Golden Tigers. Bertolini had eight assists, while Long grabbed 13 rebounds with three steals.
 
UPike will be back in action on Wednesday night when it travels to play Milligan (Tenn.) University. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.