CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Union University women's basketball team defeated Delta State University 69-62 Saturday afternoon. The Lady Bulldogs, receiving votes in the D2SIDA Media Poll, improve to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Gulf South Conference. DSU fell to 1-6 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Sara Lytle scored the first points for Union. Union led the first quarter, 17-13. In the second quarter, Union went on a 9-0 run right out of the break. A free throw by Delta State's Takisha Jordan broke the run for a second, but layups by Lytle and Chelsey Shumpert and a three by Anna Lea Little gave the Lady Bulldogs seven straight points. DSU responded with their own 7-0 run to put the score at 29-21. Shumpert scored the last seven points of the half putting the Lady Bulldogs ahead, 36-23.

Shumpert had 18 points, seven rebound and three assists at the half.

Shumpert started the second half off with a jumper for Union 12 seconds into the third. DSU went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 40-34. DSU continued to make their way back into the ball game when Alondrea Rush hit a three to put them within three points of Union. After a minute of back-and-forth scoring, the Lady Bulldogs headed into the fourth quarter up three, 49-46.

Union jumped to another 10 point lead in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. Delta State could not make up the deficit and Union won, 69-62. This was the first win for Union in Cleveland since entering the GSC in Cleveland, Miss. back in 2012-13 season. 

Union was led by Shumpert with a career high of 34 points. She added 11 rebounds and five assists. Lytle had 17 points, six rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Tiara Caldwell scored 11 points with two rebounds. Union shot 49 percent from the field, 27 percent (4-15) from 3-point range, and 77 percent (15-19) from the free throw line. This was the first time all season for Union to not hit at least 10 3-pointers in a game. Union entered the game leading the nation with 14.3 made 3-pointers per game. 

Delta State was led by Rush with 22 points. Jordan had 15 points for DSU and Alexis Ross had 10 points. The Lady Statesmen shot 51 percent from the field, 56 percent (5-9) from long range, and 63 percent (5-8) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union is a home game against Fisk University Friday, December 8 at 6 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-