Box Score

CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Union University women's basketball team fell at No. 9 Delta State University 57-51 Saturday afternoon. Union dropped to 10-4 on the season and 5-3 in the Gulf South Conference. Delta State improved to 13-1 overall with their 12th straight win, while remaining on top of the GSC with an 8-0 record.
                     
The Lady Bulldogs established season lows for field goals and shooting percentage in the defeat. Union made only 16-of-53 shots from the field for 30.2 percent. .
 
Offense was hard to find in the first half. The Lady Bulldogs started strong taking a 5-0 early advantage on shots from Shelby Ashcraft and Astrid Huttemann. Union trailed briefly at 8-7 after a layup from Seneca Walton. LaTesa McLaughlin hit a pair of free throws to give Union an 18-11 lead with 1:51 before halftime.  Delta State scored the last seven points of the half behind five from Walton and an Anissa Jackson layup for an 18-18 score at the midway point.
 
The Lady Statesmen charged out of the break scoring the first nine points of the half, extending their run from the end of the first half to 16-0. Delta State held their largest lead of the game at 27-18. Union responded on a 7-0 binge to be down two, 27-25 at 16:25. Delta State then moved their margin to seven points 32-25. The Lady Bulldogs powered ahead with a 14-5 spree. A layup from Huttemann gave the Lady Bulldogs a 39-37 lead. The only advantage for Union in the second half was short lived. Delta State scored 13 of the next 18 points to seize control of the game 50-44. Union did not connect from long range on a couple late attempts allowing Delta State to hold on for a 57-51 win.
 
Three Lady Bulldogs scored in double figures. Huttemann had 14 and McLaughlin 13. Amy Philamlee added 10 points. Union committed 13 of their 15 total turnovers in the opening half.
 
Walton had nearly half of the Delta State points. She finished the game with a double-double scoring 26 points and grabbing a game high 12 rebounds. Chelsey Rhodes also reached double figures popping in 11 points. Delta State made 15-of-24 shots for 63 percent from the field in the second half. The Lady Statesmen outrebounded the Lady Bulldogs 36-31. Delta State had 13 assists to five for Union.  
 
Union plays against Alabama Huntsville in Fred DeLay Gymnasium at 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening.
 
#UNION#