ROME, Ga. – The No. 16 Union University women's basketball team posted a 56-55 win at Shorter University Saturday afternoon. Union improved to 17-2 on the season and 11-2 in the Gulf South Conference. Shorter dropped to 12-5 overall and 9-4 in league play.
 
Union controlled the lead for most of the first half. Union started the game with a 5-0 run and led by as many as 12 points in the first half. But Shorter cut Union lead down to six points, 33-27, at the half.
 
To start the third quarter, Union quickly went up by eight on a basket from Jada Perkins. However, 9-0 run by Shorter erased Union's lead, putting the Lady Hawks up 36-35. Shorter led for the remainder of the quarter, going up by as many as five points, before taking a 48-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Union regained control with a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter. Union led 53-48 following a 3-pointer from Chelsea Bodiford. That 3-pointer by Union with 6:30 left was the final field goal of the game for the Lady Bulldogs. Shorter inched back and grabbed a brief 55-54 with 1:46 left. Then, after Union got the ball back on a turnover, Perkins sank two free throws to give Union the lead, 56-55, with 1:02 left in the game. Shorter missed on their next possession, but a Union turnover gave the Lady Hawks another chance. However, Shorter missed on two late opportunities, allowing Union to escape with the win.
 
Shorter outrebounded Union 32-21 and both teams committed a combined 35 turnovers (18 Union).
 
Union was led by freshman guard and Jackson native Jada Perkins with 21 points. Kelsey Risner was the next highest scorer for Union with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Union shot 44 percent from the field, 33 percent (6-18) from long range and 73 percent (8-11) from the charity stripe.
 
Shorter was led by Taylor Adams with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Shaundricka Mann added 11 points. The Lady Hawks shot 43 percent from the field, 14 percent (1-7) from 3-point range and 60 percent (12-20) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be the first of four straight home games. Union will host No. 24 Delta State (Miss.) Thursday night at 6 p.m. in a battle for first place in the GSC. Listen on 93.1 FM, watch on Jackson's EPlus TV 6 or catch the action online at www.uuathletics.com/live.
 
#UNION#