TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 13 Union University women's basketball team posted a 59-56 win at No. 20 Tampa University. Union improved to 2-0 on the season, while Tampa dropped to 1-1.
 
Freshmen guard Jada Perkins from Jackson North Side and Jada Smith from Hoover, Ala. paced Union with a combined 32 points on the night.
 
The game between two top 20 teams in the WBCA Preseason Poll lived up to the expectation. The game featured 13 ties and 14 lead changes. The largest lead for both teams was just five points.
 
After the first quarter, the game was tied 16-16. Tampa led 28-26 at the half and then the game was again tied after three quarters, 45-45.  
 
With 1:50 left in the game, the score was 56-56. Both teams then swapped turnovers. Union's Smith then sank one of two free throws with 23 seconds left to give Union a 57-56 lead. Tamps missed a shot to take the lead with two seconds left and Union's Chivers grabbed the rebound. After being fouled, Chivers sank two free throws to seal the 59-56 win for Union.
 
Smith led all scorers with 19 points while adding a team-high five assists. Perkins added 13 points and four boards while Tiara Caldwell scored 14 points and had eight rebounds. Senior guard Kelsey Risner  grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Union shot 35 percent from the field, 28 percent (5-18) from long range and 67 percent (10-15) from the free throw line.
 
Tampa was led by Cavallaro with 12 points and McVey with 11 points. The Spartans shot 36 percent from the field, 26 percent (6-23) from 3-point range and 80 percent (12-15) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be their regular season home opener November 18 at 7 p.m. versus Rust (Miss.) College.
 
#UNION#