PIKEVILLE – Behind two epic performances and some strong shooting nearly all around, UPIKE women’s basketball was able to get back in the win column on Saturday by defeating Georgetown, 86-75.
Kayla Mullins put in a team season-high tying 28 points in just her second game back from injury, making 11 of her 14 shots including four out of six attempts beyond the arc. In addition to Mullins, Brianna Burbridge, who has basically become a walking double-double of late, turned in another one with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
UPIKE’s offense performed well all night, shooting no lower than 43 percent in any quarter; but, the Bears really locked in after halftime, shooting 58 percent. Pikeville even shot well from beyond the arc, which had been its Achilles heel this month. The Bears made 10 of its 24 attempts from deep, the most they’ve made in a game since November.
Three of those 10 came off the hands of Alexis Reed in the fourth quarter. After Georgetown had cut the lead to just one point, Reed and Mullins hit back-to-back threes to ignite UPIKE’s huge push. UPIKE went on a 21-6 run started by those two 3-pointers. The Bears also turned up the defense in that time, forcing Georgetown to miss seven of eight shots in that time as well.
Pikeville led most of the first half, but let Georgetown come back toward the end of the half. That momentum shift continued early in the third quarter, as the Tigers built up as much as a five-point lead. From there, the lead changed hands three times in building the scene for UPIKE’s fourth quarter outburst.
With the win, UPIKE moves to 15-8 overall and 4-3 in the Mid-South Conference. The Bears are currently in fourth place, but just one game back from second place Lindsey Wilson.
UP NEXT
UPIKE’s start to the second half of the conference season will begin Thursday night when the Bears travel to Williamsburg and take on Cumberlands (Ky.) at 6 p.m.