SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Missouri S&T 88-60 Friday night in their first game of the Drury University Thanksgiving Classic. Union improved to 5-0 on the season, while Missouri S&T fell to 4-1 on the year. 

For the second straight game, Union hit 19 3-pointers in the win (19-for-42, 45%). 

The Lady Miners jumped to a 7-2 lead in the first two minutes of the ball game, but Union quickly responded by a jumper from Jada Perkins and three from Chelsey Shumpert, tying the game. The Lady Miners were able to score again twice before the Lady Bulldogs went on a 15-0 run, going up 25-9. The first quarter ended with Union leading 27-14. 

The Lady Miners controlled the second quarter holding the Lady Bulldogs to only 11 points. Anna Lea Little scored six points for Union as she went 2-for-2 from 3-point range in the second quarter. Missouri S&T out scored 18-11 in the second quarter, but Union still led 38-32 at the half.

Little started the third quarter with a three for Union that turned into a 7-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs with a lay up from Perkins and jumper from Shumpert. Little and Shumpert each had two threes, Perkins and Elli Pratt each had one in the third. This helped Union pull ahead, 66-48. 

Tiffany Rechis hit three three-pointers in a row for the Lady Bulldogs early in the fourth quarter, all within a minute. The junior had been held scoreless in the first half. Rechis hit another three with four minutes left in the ball game. Union pulled away for the 88-60. 

Union was led by Perkins with a season high of 24 points, five assists, four steals, and five 3-pointers. Shumpert had 20 points, five assists, and five steals. Little had a career high of 17 points including five 3-pointers. Rechis finished with 12 points. Four different players for Union hit at least four 3-pointers. Sara Lytle and Pratt each added seven rebounds. Union shot 46 percent from the field, 45 percent (19-42) from long range, and 88 percent (7-8) from the free throw line. 

Missouri S&T was led by Janie Arand and Maddie Raley with 18 points each. The Miners shot 39 percent from the field, 32 percent (6-19) from long range, and 44 percent (4-9) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union is game two in the Drury Thanksgiving Classic as they take on host Drury University Saturday, November 25 at 5:30 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-