CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Union University women's basketball team lost a heartbreaker 74-71 in overtime at Delta State University Thursday night. Union dropped to 15-3 on the season, but remain in first place in the Gulf South Conference with an 11-3 record. Delta State improved to 11-7 overall and 9-5 in league play.
 
Union proved again in this game as they have so many times this year that they are a team that can rally from almost any deficit. Union trailed by 12 points, 40-28, with 16:33 left in the game. However, Union rolled off a 16-3 run over the next five minutes to take a 44-43 lead.
 
After the teams went back-and-forth over the next 10 minutes, Union was down by six points, 62-56 with 50 seconds left. But again, Union rallied with a 7-1 run to close out regulation, including a game-tying layup from Amy Philamlee with 11 seconds left. The game went to overtime tied 63-63.
 
In overtime, Union again had to rally, this time from five points down with 1:53 left. Union tied the game with five straight points, including one of six 3-pointers in the game from Amber Rechis. Union took a brief 71-70 lead with 57 seconds left. However, a basket on the other end from reigning GSC Player of the Year Seneca Walton put Delta State up for good. Union was down by two, 73-71, but missed a go-ahead 3-pointer. After one of two free throws on by Delta State, Union had one last 3-point attempt come up short as the game ended.
 
In the first half, Union scored first on a 3-pointer from Rechis. However, Union went almost eight minutes without another field goal. Union trailed by as many as 10 points late in the first half. But a 9-2 run over the final 1:44 for Union cut the halftime deficit to just 30-27.
 
Union was led by Philamlee with a double-double of 21 points and 11 assists. Rechis added 18 points on six 3-pointers. Kelsey Risner added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. . Union shot 40 percent from the field, 33 percent (15-46) from long range and 73 percent (8-11) from the free throw line.
 
Delta State was led by Walton with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Chelsey Rhodes added 18 points, and Rhandi Ball scored 16 points. The Lady Statesmen shot 44 percent from the field, 29 percent (4-14) from 3-point range and 64 percent (18-28) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be a second of four straight road games as the Lady Bulldogs will face Mississippi College Saturday, January 31 at 2 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live.
 
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