PENSACOLA, Fla.. – The Union University women's basketball team posted an 80-78 overtime win at the University of West Florida Saturday afternoon. It was the second time this season for Union to knock off West Florida, the top team in the Gulf South Conference.

GAME DETAILS
Final: Union 80  |  West Florida 78 (overtime)  
Records: Union 13-11, 8-10 | West Florida 19-5, 14-4
Location: UWF Field House – Pensacola, Fla.
Series: Union leads 10-3
Social: @UUAthletics  |  #WeAreUU  |  UUAthletics.com

WHAT HAPPENED
Union led by one point on two occasions in the first quarter, but West Florida held a small lead for most of the first 10 minutes. The Argos led by as many as three points in the first quarter, before finishing with an 18-16 lead. In the second quarter, Union managed a two point lead for a short time, but it was West Florida matching their largest lead of the half at four points with a 33-29 lead heading into the locker room.
 
Union opened the second half with eight straight points, four from Bria Gaies and four from Jada Smith to take a 37-33 lead. The teams went back-and-forth for the rest of the third quarter with neither team leading by more than four points. The game was tied 53-53 at the end of three quarters.
 
In the fourth quarter, Union scored first and never trailed in the fourth quarter. Union led by as many as four points a few times and UWF tied the game twice during the quarter. With Union leading 65-62 and 40 seconds left. West Florida got a pair of free throws to cut the Union lead to just one. Union missed on a shot with 13 seconds left, giving UWF a chance at the win. A foul called on Sara Lytle with one second left put UWF's Toni Brewer at the line. Flashback to a game at UAH earlier in the year when Union led by one and was called for an over the back foul with one second left. UAH sank two free throws to win. Now West Florida had the same opportunity. Brewer however missed the first, but made the second, sending the game into overtime.
 
In overtime, Union jumped out to their largest lead of the game by either team, 77-69, with 35 seconds left. UWF hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to just five with 27 seconds left. Union answered with a pair of free throws from Tiffany Rechis with 27 seconds left to go up by seven points, 79-72, with 23 seconds left. UWF scored quickly on a layup to cut to the Union lead to five. Union got one of two free throws from Huttemann, but UWF scored again with six seconds left to cut the deficit to just four. After a Union turnover and foul on a 3-point attempt, West Florida hit two of three free throws, missing the third on purpose. The loose ball rebound went out of bounds as time expired, giving Union the win.

STAT OF THE GAME
Union senior guard shattered her career high in rebounds in game with 13 versus UWF. Her previous high was four. She also missed her first career double-double by one point with nine points to go with her 13 rebounds.

TEAM STATS
Union shot 46 percent from the field, 30 percent (7-23) from 3-point range and 55 percent (11-20) from the free throw line.
West Florida shot 34 percent from the field, 23 percent (5-22) from long range and 64 percent (21-33) from the free throw line.
West Florida out rebounded Union 52-40, including 15-5 offensively. Union also committed 15 turnovers to 10 for the Argos. Both teams combined to miss 21 free throws (Union 9, UWF 12).

PLAYER STATS
Union was led by Sara Lytle with 18 points. Jada Smith scored 16, Bria Gaines added 11 and Astrid Hutteman scored 10 points. Chelsea Bodiford added 13 rebounds and nine points.
West Florida was led by Brewer with 19 points including 11-of-13 from the free throw line. Ales Coyne added 16 points, Shami Goodman scored 13, Katie O'Neal 12, while Katie Bobos had a double-double with 11 points and 17 rebounds.

UP NEXT
Union returns home for a game versus Delta State, Thursday, February 16 at 6 p.m. Union then hits the road for their final road game of the regular season Saturday at Mississippi College. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-