Williamsburg, KY – Patriots women's basketball returned to Williamsburg Thursday night, defeating Pikeville 64-61 in an overtime thriller. The win improves the Patriots to 16-4 overall, 4-3 in conference play while the Bears fall to 14-8 and 3-4 in the MSC.

Vilma Covane's double-double led the Patriots, as she drained eight shots for 20 points, also grabbing 11 rebounds. Carla Covane notched a double-double as well, dropping 10 points and pulling in a team-high 12 rebounds.

The first quarter saw both teams battle for momentum in the opening four minutes, with Reagan Begole and Vilma Covane both hitting from the field to make it 4-4 with 6:00 to play. With 5:36 to play in the first, UPike mounted their first run of the game, hitting back to back threes and a free throw to take a 11-7 lead. Vilma Covane would connect on a layup in the paint to tie the game at 15 with 0:30 remaining before the Bears splashed a jumper in the final seconds to take a 17-15 lead.

To open the second quarter, the Bears hit a pair of threes along with a two pointer to go on a 8-4 run in the first four minutes. Pikeville managed another three with five minutes to go to take a 28-21 lead, their largest of the game. An Abbi Douglas three pointer followed by a Vilma Covane layup with 1:37 to go brought the Patriots within four. UPike would get one more field goal before the half to lead 32-26 at the break.
 
Coming out of the break, the Patriots mounted a 7-2 run to bring them within one with 7:00 minutes to go in the quarter. The Patriots limited the Bears offensively, not allowing Pikeville past three points until the 1:49 mark when a three would make it 41-35 UPike. With 30 seconds left in the quarter, Carla Covane nailed a shot in the paint to bring the Patriots within two.

Less than a minute into the fourth, Silvia Veloso splashed a jumper to tie the game for the first time in the second half, making it 42 all. With 5:27 to go, it was a one point ballgame once again as Carla Covane would make one of two at the free throw line to move the score to 46-45. With 3:41 remaining, Veloso sliced through the defense in transition, laying it in to give the Patriots a 50-49 lead. In the last 2:30, the teams traded baskets for a total of three lead changes with Veloso managing four points in the stretch. Pikeville made good on a free throw with 17 seconds to go to lead 56-54, UC would be unable to score on the next possession. With four seconds to go, the Patriots forced a turnover and secured a final possession. With 0:02 on the clock, Begole caught the inbound and managed a tough layup as time expired to tie the game at 56.

Overtime was a fast-paced battle of control as both teams sprinted the floor for the opening minute and a half. Vilma Covane made good on a two pointer with 4:47 to go but was answered quickly by a UPike layup on the next possession. With 1:48 to go, Jasyme Stewart made an inside shot to put the Patriots up 61-58. A pair of Hannah Lawson free throws extended the Patriots lead to four with 0:34 left to play. Despite a three from Pikeville, the Patriots held on to win 64-61 after Abbi Douglas connected on a free throw with 0:10 left to seal the win.

The Patriots shot 42 percent, going 24-57 from the field while going 14-24 from the free throw line for 58.3 percent. UC outrebounded the Bears 43-27.

The Patriots return to action on Saturday, January 25^th to take on the Bears of Shawnee State University. Tip-off from Randy Vernon Court is slated for 2PM.