PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 11 Union University women's basketball team posted a 70-59 win at the University of West Florida Saturday afternoon. Union improved to 23-2 on the season and 17-2 in the Gulf South Conference. West Florida dropped to 15-8 overall and 13-6 in league play.
 
With the win, Union clinched the No. 1 seed in the GSC Tournament starting March 1. Union will host the first round game, Tuesday March 1 versus the No. 8 seed. The semifinals and finals will be March 5-6 at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Union has clinched a share of the second straight GSC regular season crown with a three game lead with three to play.
 
The win for Union was also their 12^th straight win. This is Union's longest winning streak since 2012 when Union had their 19-game winning streak snapped in the NAIA National Championship Game.
 
Union started the game with a layup from Jada Perkins to lead 2-0. After five minutes of play, the score was 7-7. West Florida took control for the remainder of the first quarter and start of the second quarter. Over an eight minute stretch, West Florida outscored Union 16-6 to take a 23-13 lead. West Florida led again by 10 points, 28-18, with 5:33 left in the first half.
 
Union's Kelsey Risner then hit three 3-pointers to start a 14-2 run that was capped by a 3-pointer from Tiffany Rechis. Union led 32-30 with 1:32 left in the half. Union took a 34-32 lead into the locker room.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
In the third quarter, the teams when back and forth early in the quarter and with 5:24 left, Union trailed 40-39. Rechis hit two free throws to give Union the lead for good. Those free throws by Rechis sparked a 17-5 run that put Union up 11 points, 56-45 with 6:17 left in the game. Risner capped the run with another 3-pointer.  West Florida got as close as seven points a few times in the fourth quarter but Union pushed their lead back to 11 points, 70-59, by the end of the game.
 
Union hit 10 3-pointers in the game and has now hit at least 10 threes in four straight games.
 
Union's Risner led all scorers with 27 points including 7-of-12 from 3-point range. Tiara Caldwell added 14 points and nine rebounds. Jada Smith scored all 10 of her points in the second half. Perkins finished with six points, five assists and six rebounds. Union shot 40 percent from the field, 40 percent (10-25) from long range and 82 percent (14-17) from the free throw line.
 
West Florida was led by Aneesa Watson with 11 points and Kelly Preston with 14 rebounds. Katie Bobos added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Argos shot 40 percent from the field, 35 percent (7-20) from 3-point range and 50 percent (2-4) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be a road game Thursday, February 11 at North Alabama at 6:00 p.m. Listen at 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live.
 
-UNION-