Freshman guard Sophie Adkins turned in her first career double-double with a career highs of 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead the University of Pikeville to a 73-57 win over Columbia (S.C.) College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Adkins scored 27 on only 13 shots from the field thanks to going 10 of 13 from the free throw line.
 
Senior Jaidy Mejia-Andrade had a fantastic showing on the defensive end, with seven rebounds, six blocked shots and a pair of steals. Her blocks were only one off her career high.
 
UPike sent a message in the first five minutes of the game, scoring 18 of the first 20 points. The Bears made all seven shots, four of them three pointers, in the stretch. Meanwhile, the Koalas missed all five of their shots in the run, scoring only on a pair of free throws.
 
Three of the triples came from sophomore Jaaliyah Warren, including the three with 4:55 left to end a 13-point run for the Bears to make the score 18-2.
 
The Bears led 23-6 after one quarter.
 
UPike's lead, which grew to as much as 24, stood at 20 (39-19) after junior Rachel Bush connected on a jump shot with 4:51 left in the half.
 
However, that was the last field goal of the first half for the home team, and the Koalas scored 10 unanswered points to climb back into the game. Four of their five baskets came after offensive rebounds, including a putback by senior De'Asia Feaster with 1:08 left in the half to cut the lead to 39-29.
 
At the half, the Bears were on top 41-29.
 
UPike led 57-41 to start the fourth quarter, when the Koalas had an 11-2 run to pull within 10. It started and ended with three-point buckets by junior Anaya Muhammad to cut UPike's lead to 59-49 with 8:09 left.
 
From there, however, the Bears went on a 12-3 run over the next 4:33. Adkins led the way with eight to push the lead to 71-52.
 
Adkins was joined in double figures by Warren with 16 and Bush with 15. Warren had four three-pointers in the win while Bush led the Bears with 12 rebounds and four assists.
 
The Koalas used 15 players in the game and had one in double figures, as Muhammad came off the bench for 13. Feaster led them with seven rebounds.
 
UPike will follow Columbia home, traveling to play Columbia International on Monday afternoon. The game has a special start time of 3 p.m.