BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Union University women's basketball team fell 101-58 at Western Kentucky University in an exhibition game to start the 2017-18 season.
 
The Lady Bulldogs stayed close early, trailing 13-7 after the first quarter. Union played with the home Lady Toppers in the second quarter, being outscored just 26-18. Union was down 39-25 at the half.
 
In the second half, Western Kentucky pulled away from Union, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 62-33 in the final 20 minutes.
 
Senior newcomer Chelsey Shumpert led Union with 26 points, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range. Jada Perkins added 11 points. Union made just six 3-pointers in the game, shooting 21 percent from behind the arc. The Lady Bulldogs hit 67 percent (6-9) of their free throws and 40 percent (23-58) of the field goals. Union had 21 turnovers in the game.
 
Western Kentucky was led by I. Brown with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Elgedawy added 20 points and a team high 14 rebounds. Creech scored 13 points, T. Brown added 12 and Givens scored 11.  The Lady Toppers shot 61 percent from the field, 41 percent (7-17) from 3-point range, and 78 percent (14-18) from long range.
 
Union played short-handed with three players out with injury, including starting guard and last year's leading scorer Jada Smith. Union was also without both post players, Bria Gaines and Tiara Caldwell, both who averaged double figures in their previous seasons with Union.
 
Up next for Union will be the second of three straight exhibition games to start the season. Union will host Martin Methodist Saturday at 4 p.m. for Homecoming, before traveling to Georgia Tech November 5 at 1 p.m.
 
-UNION-