JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Christian Brothers University 81-65 Monday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium.Union, ranked No. 11 in the D2SIDA Poll and receiving votes in the WBCA Coaches Poll, improved to 10-1 overall. The Lady Bucs fell to 2-7 overall.

AnnaLea Little opened up the game for Union with a shot from beyond the arc. Christian Brothers quickly responded with a layup from Mikaela Blissett. The Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Bucs continued to play even early, until Union started to pull away until Tiffany Rechis made a 3-point shot giving Union the 15-9 lead. With a little over four minutes left in the first quarter Tiara Calwell started a six point run, extending Union's lead to eleven points. Courtney Banks halted Union's  lead with a layup making the score 21-12. To end the first quarter Union went on a 10-2 run, giving Union the 31-14 lead. 

Christian Brothers scored the first points of the second quarter with a three-pointer from Rafaella Angelidou. The Lady Bulldogs then went on a 9-0. Then Blissett started a 7-0 run for the Lady Bucs, closing down Union's lead back to 16 points. Union closed the half with two layups from Jada Perkins and Chelsey Shumpert, finishing the half 44-24. 

Shumpert opened the second half for Union with a jumper, but Blissett responded for the Bucs with a layup, making the score 33-51. Union and Christian Brothers played evenly in the third quarter until Union went on a 10-0 run started from a three-pointer from Tiffany Rechis. The score going into the fourth quarter was 66-42. 

Banks and Blissett scored the first five points of the final quarter for the Bucs, but Shumpert responded for the Bulldogs with a layup. Christian brothers outscored Union 23-15 in the fourth quarter and 41-37 in the second half. However, Union maintained control for the 81-65 win.  

Union was lead by Shumpert, who had a double-double, with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Caldwell scored 18 points, while Jada Perkins and Sara Lytle finished with 10 points each. Perkins dished out a game-high 10 assists. Union shot 50 percent from the field, 33 percent (9-27) from long range, and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. 

Christian Brothers was led by Blissett with 19 points. Angelidou added 16 points, while Brynne Lytle scored 12. The Lady Bucs shot 42 percent from the field, 21 percent (5-24) from 3-point range, and 67 percent (8-12) from the free throw line. 

Union will be off for the Christmas break until January 2 when the Lady Bulldogs continue their five game home stretch versus West Georgia at 6 p.m. 

-UNION-