SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The No. 22 Union University women's basketball team fell 87-79 at No. 11 Drury University in the finals of the Drury Thanksgiving Classic. Union suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 5-1. Drury improved to 5-1 overall. Union Chelsey Shumpert and Sara Lytle were named to the all-tournament team.

Union led for the majority of the game, but just could not hold of the home Panthers in the final minutes. Union held their largest lead of the game, 11 points, with 8:47 left in the second quarter. The was played as expected with five ties and 13 lead changes in the game, most coming in the final quarter. Over the first three quarters, Union led for all but two minutes of play, including the entire second quarter and first seven minutes of the third quarter. 

Union led their largest lead of the second half, 52-42, with 5:36 left in the third quarter. Drury got a 3-pointer and started their rally. The Panthers regained the lead 55-54 with 2:28 left in the quarter. From that point on, the game was back and forth. Union led 62-61 going into the fourth quarter. 

The lead changed hands 11 times in the final 13 minutes of the game. With 4:35 left in the game, Union's Chelsey Shumpert scored to give her team a 71-68 lead. But a jumper from Drury followed by a pair of free throws gave the Panthers the 72-71 lead. Union managed to tie the game 74-74 and again 76-76 with 2:03 left to play. But the Lady Bulldog never regained the lead. Drury was 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to seal the win. Union's Shumpert did sink a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to get Union to with three points, 82-79. But Drury's free throws never allowed Union a chance for the rally. 

Union was led by Shumpert with 27 points. Lytle added 17 points and Tiffany Rechis added 15 points on five 3-pointers. Union shot an impressive 62 percent from the field in the loss, including 42 percent (11-26) from 3-point range. Union has made at least 10 3-pointers in all six games on the season. Union was only 4-of-8 from the free throw line. 

Drury shot 41 percent from the field, 38 percent (12-32) from long range, and was 25-31 (81 percent) from the free throw line. Drury dominated the glass, out rebounded Union 40-21 in the game including 21-3 on the offensive glass. In doing so, the Panthers won the second chance points battle 20-2. Alice Heinzler led with 28 points. Hailey Diestelkamp scored 16 points, Daejah Bernard 14 points, and Brooke Stanfield 12 points. 

Up next for Union will be the first Gulf South Conference games of the year, both on the road. Up first is at Mississippi College, Thursday, November 30 at 5:30 p.m. and then Saturday, December 1 at Delta State at 2 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-