MIDWAY, Ky. - Facing a 2024 NAIA National Tournament qualifier for the fifth time already this season, the Midway women's basketball team was able to secure a signature win and a substantial momentum boost heading into winter break.

Kassidy Daugherty hit a 3-pointer with 2:12 remaining, breaking a 69-69 tie and starting a decisive 9-0 run in an 82-75 win over in-state foe Pikeville at Marshall Gymnasium Tuesday afternoon.

With the Bears ahead 53-51 going into the fourth quarter, the lead would change hands nine times in a 5-minute, 29-second stretch in the final period. After Midway pulled ahead 69-66 on two A'Lyrica Hughes free throws, the Bears pulled even on an India Blyth triple with 2:30 to play.

But Daugherty, who was one of five Eagles to score in double-figures, closed out her 11-point performance with a quick-release corner three off an assist from Atlantis White.

Hughes then essentially locked the game up with back-to-back layups, the first off a Pikeville miss, the second coming on a fastbreak following the last of her game-high six steals.

The freshman guard finished with 15 points and five rebounds while finishing with five-or-more steals for the fourth time in just 11 games this season. She helped key a great defensive fourth quarter in which the Eagles forced nine turnovers that led to 10 points.

White continued her career year with an 18-point performance, equaling the career-high mark she set in Midway's previous game against Rio Grande (Ohio). 

Jacie Chesser added 15 points off the bench while Jermyra Christian had the third double-double of her career, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Midway improves to 6-5 on the year, doing so against a Pikeville team that won the Appalachian Athletic Conference a season ago and was predicted to repeat this season. It also snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Bears, the Eagles' last win coming on Nov. 3, 2007.

Midway is off for the next 13 days before returning home to face Lourdes (Ohio) at 5 p.m. on Dec. 30.