HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The University of Pikeville women's basketball team opened preseason play on Friday night, falling at Marshall University 84-49 in the Cam Henderson Center.
 
The exhibition was the first time either team had been on the court.
 
UPike shot 35.1 percent overall and 27.8 percent from the arc on the night. Marshall's biggest advantage was their size, leading to a 57-36 advantage on the glass. Of those, the Thundering Herd had 29 offensive rebounds.
 
Consecutive baskets by sophomore Ella Giles and Makena Patrick, and a free throw on the latter to complete the three-point play, gave the Bears a 5-4 lead with 6:40 left in the opening period.
 
Patrick had five in the first quarter of play.
 
The game was tied three times in the first period, including at 12-12 with 3:07 left after a baseline jumper by Sophie Adkins. The Herd closed out the period with the final six points to lead 19-12 after a quarter.
 
The run to end the first period turned out to be a precursor for the second period. The Herd scored seven of the first nine points and pushed the lead to 30-16 with 4:21 remaining in the half.
 
By halftime, the Bears trailed 46-24. It was shooting 34.5 percent by recess and was 1 for 3 from the line.
 
The second opened well for the Bears. Sophomore Anika Stehbens scored the first seven points for UPike in a 7-2 run, cutting the Marshall lead to 48-31 with 7:49 left. A three by Giles with 5:55 left trimmed the Marshall lead to 50-34.
 
But rebounding took its toll on the Bears the rest of the quarter, as the Herd led 64-37 by the period's end.
 
Stehbens led the Bears with 15 points and tied for the team lead with nine rebounds and was the only Bear in double figures in the scoring column. Adkins followed with seven points, while Jaaliyah Warren added six.
 
Senior Rachel Bush had nine rebounds and blocked three shots.
 
The 2026-27 regular season opens on Wednesday, Nov. 4 when the Bears host WVU Tech at the Appalachian Wireless Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.