JACKSON, Tenn. – The No. 11 Union University women's basketball team posted a 69-57 win over Lee University Saturday afternoon at Union's Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 8-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Gulf South Conference. Lee dropped to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.
 
Lee scored first in the game but is was Union who dominated the first quarter, leading by as many as 11 points, 17-6 with 32 seconds left. The quarter included an 11-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs, who led 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. Union seemed to be pulling away at home as they pushed their lead up to 15 points, 33-18, with 3:51 left in the half. However, Lee rattled off 12 straight points, snapped only by a Union free throw with five seconds left, to set Union's halftime lead at just four points, 34-30.
 
Union was 0-3 from 3-point range in the first half, but were carried by junior Tiara Caldwell with 13 points in the first half.
 
Union opened the second half with a 9-0 run pushing their lead up to 43-30. Just like the first quarter, Union dominated the third quarter, outscoring Lee 22-14. Union extended their lead to a game-high 19 points, 55-36, with 3:04 left in the third quarter. But again, Lee slowly cut into Union lead and at the end of the quarter, trailed the Lady Bulldogs 56-44. Lee got as close as eight points in the final quarter but both teams managed 13 points each, setting the final at 69-57. Union was 11-for-14 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to help seal the win. Union's only field goal of the fourth quarter was a layup from Bethany Lytle on Union's first possession of the quarter.
 
Union hit just two 3-pointers in the game. It is the fewest made in a game since Union hit just 1-for-14 from long range in a 69-56 win versus Campbellsville (Ky.) November 14, 2011.
 
Union was led by Caldwell with a game high 21 points and 11 rebounds. Lytle finished 15 points, while Kelsey Risner finished with 10 rebounds. Union shot 44 percent from the field, 25 percent (2-8) from long range and 78 percent (25-32) from the free throw line.
 
Lee was led by Erin Walsh with 18 points and Kayla Beavers with 12 points. Christina Johnson and Carrie Cheeks with 11 and 10 rebounds respectively. Lee shot 31 percent from the field, 31 percent (10-32) from behind the arc and 46 percent (5-11) from the free throw line.
 
Union will close out the semester with four straight road games. Union will be at Mississippi College Thursday night in Clinton, Miss. at 6 p.m. Listen live on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live.
 
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