UPIKE Athletics

Five players reached double figures as the University of Pikeville opened the UPike Classic with a 75-63 win over Taylor University on Friday afternoon in the UPike Gym.
 
While the offense shined through, it was the defense that made the difference. UPike held the Trojans to 34.3 percent shooting. Included in that was 4 of 19 from the arc for 21.1 percent.
 
They also struggled from the line, going 13 for 23 (56.5 percent).
 
A couple of late misses pushed UPike below 50 percent from the field, hitting 48.4 percent overall and 6 for 23 from the arc. The Bears finished 9 for 13 from the line.
 
UPike went on an early 12-2 lead. With the score tied at 2, a 4:14 stretch saw sophomore Anika Stehbens score eight while the Trojans made only 1 of 7 from the field as the Bears moved in front 14-4.
 
It stayed in that range until late in the first half when Taylor scored five straight to pull within 35-27 with 5:04 left in the half. From there, the Bears scored six straight in while holding the Trojans scoreless into the second half.
 
When junior Makena Patrick scored to start the second half, UPike's lead was 41-27. While the Bears only scored six points, they held the Trojans scoreless for 5:43.
 
UPike's lead was trimmed to 61-55 when it scored 10 unanswered points to pull away for good. In a 1:48 stretch, the Bears sank all four field goal tries. Included in that was a three-pointer by sophomore Sophie Adkins, who had five of the 10, and a three-point play by senior Rachel Bush.
 
When Adkins scored on a layup off a pass from Kylie Alvin with 3:51 to play, the UPike lead was 71-55.
 
Adkins led the Bears with 18 points, nailing 7 for 11 from the field. Bush followed with her second straight double-double to start the season, scoring 15 while pulling down 14 rebounds.
 
Stehbens had 13 points and eight rebounds, Patrick finished with 11 and eight while junior guard Taylor McKenzie came off the bench for 10 points and three steals.
 
Taylor was paced by sophomore Kaycie Warfel with 17 points. Sophomore Jordan Mueller came off the bench for 12 points.
 
Freshman Kendall McLaughlin led the Trojan rebound efforts with 13.
 
UPike will be back in action on Saturday in the classic, playing No. 9 Saint Francis (Ind.).