FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Union University women's basketball team posted an 83-78 victory at No. 1 Nova Southeastern (Fla.) University Saturday afternoon. Union improved to 4-0 on the season, while Nova Southeastern dropped to 5-1 overall.
 
Union head coach Mark Campbell said, "I am really proud of our effort in a game where we fell down by 11 points in the second half. We fought and played with a lot of toughness. Different players hit big shots, made great decisions, and hit big free throws down the stretch. We have a lot of respect for Nova and Coach Freeland. She does a great job and we knew that playing on the road against a great program would expedite the maturity process with this group. We have a lot to learn but this was a great win on the road."
                                                     
Union trailed by 10 at halftime and by as many as 11 points, 51-40, in the second half. However, the Lady Bulldog slowly began to chip away at the Nova lead. With 4:29 left in the game, Union's Chelsea Bodiford drained a 3-pointer from right in front of the Union bench to tie the game at 74-74. Union took their first lead of the second half on the next possession with a pair of free throws from Fredi Nielson. After a layup from Nova's Monaye Merritt tied the game at 76-76, Union took the lead for good with a pair of free throws from DeAnna Thompson with 1:56 left to play.
 
In the final 3:41 of the game, Union made 9-of-10 free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Thompson was key in Union's second half rally with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
Nova started the game on a 6-0 run, but Union quickly got things going and led by as many as seven points, 25-18 at the 9:33 mark. But Nova run of 22-4 helped the Sharks take control of the game for their biggest lead of 11 points, 40-29 with 1:19 left in the first half.
 
Union outrebounded Nova 43-34 with both teams keeping the turnovers to a minimum (Union-11, Nova-7). Union won the second chance points battle 20-12, despite getting outscored 52-30 in points in the paint. Both teams put five players in double figures in points.
 
Union was led by Thompson's third straight double-double with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Kelsey Risner posted her fourth double-double in the four games on the year with 19 points and 10 rebounds.  Amber Rechis added 14 points, 11 coming in the first half. Rechis hit 4-of-7 three pointers in the game. Amy Philamlee recorded all 12 of her points in the second half and led with nine assists, while Bodiford added 11 points with three 3-ponters. Union shot 43 percent from the field, including 53 percent in the second half. From 3-point range, Union was 38 percent for the game (12-32) and 40 percent (6-15) in the second half. Union made 90 percent (17-19) of their free throws in the game.
 
Nova Southeastern was led by Jasmine Wilkins with 16 points. Merritt added 15 points, Kayla Wright scored 12 points, Alexis Murphy added 11 points, and Winter Rodriguez scored 10 points. The Sharks shot 49 percent from the field, 20 percent (6-30) from long range, and 46 percent (6-13) from the free throw line.
 
This game ends Union's non-conference schedule as the Lady Bulldogs will begin GSC play next Thursday, December 4 at Shorter (Ga.) at 5 p.m. central time. Union games can be heard live on WWGM 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live.
 
#UNION#