ROME, Ga. – The No. 19 Union University women's basketball team posted a 100-74 win over Shorter (Ga.) University Thursday evening in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams. Union improved to 5-0 on the season, while Shorter dropped to 4-3 overall.
 
Union senior guard Amy Philamlee set a school record for assists in a game with 15. The old record of 14 was held by Shea Piercy since the 1987-88 season. Philamlee also posted a game-high 29 points. She did not score her first point of the game until a layup with five minutes left to play in the first half. She finished the half with 10 points, then added 19 in the second half.
 
Union jumped out to a 24-9 start led by Kelsey Risner with four 3-pointers in just over seven minutes of play. Shorter got as close as 10 points, 32-22, and again just before the half, 46-36. Union took a 48-36 lead into the break.
 
In the second half, Union controlled the game, pushing out to a 20-point lead, 64-44, with 15 minutes left to play. Union held their largest lead of 29 points, 91-62, with 5:22 left to play.
 
The Lady Bulldogs shot a blistering 66 percent from the field in the game and 64 percent from 3-point range, hitting 14-of-22 from beyond the arc. Union's Philamlee posted 29 points to go along with her record setting 15 assists. Senior post DeAnna Thompson continued her double-double streak of five straight to start the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Three other Union players scored double figures including Risner with 19 points, Chelsea Bodiford with 12 points, and Fredie Nielsen with 11 points.
 
Philamlee, Risner, and Bodiford each hit four 3-pointers for Union on the night. Union outrebounded Shorter 33-32, and committed one less turnover 10-9. Union outscored Shorter 42-28 in the paint while getting 17 points off turnovers and 23 points off the bench.
 
Shorter was led by Ieshia Alexander with 29 points including a game-high six 3-pointers. Cynara Pitt added 17 points for the Hawks, while Jackie Hudson scored 13 points. The Hawks shot  43 percent from the field, and an impressive 53 percent (9-17) from long range.
 
Union will continue their conference opening road trip with a game Saturday at Lee (Tenn.) at 1 p.m. central time.
 
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