JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Auburn University at Montgomery, 64-44, Thursday at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union, ranked No. 24 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll and No. 8 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, improved 12-1 overall and 5-0 in the Gulf South Conference. AUM dropped to 6-7 and 2-4 in league play. 

Union took the lead early with a pair of layups by Sara Lytle. Evelina Avleeva scored AUM's first points of the game at the 7:26 minute mark of the first quarter. AnnaLea Little then quickly responded with a shot from beyond the arc, giving Union the 7-2 lead. Both teams struggled in the first quarter with Union taking a 12-7 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.  

Kyvin Goodin-Rogers scored her first points as a Lady Bulldog at the beginning of the second quarter, making the score 14-7. Jamaiya Lee then scored for the Warhawks closing the gap back down to five points. Tiara Caldwell then started a 7-0 lead for Union that lasted until Aaliyah Milford stopped the run with a three-point play. The Lady Bulldogs rolled off a 13-0 run just before halftime. Union held a 22 point lead, 34-12, before taking a 34-14 lead into the locker room. 

In the second half, Union extended their lead to as many as 27 points, 61-34, following an 11-0 run. Union then coasted to the 64-44 win. 

Union was led by the reigning GSC Player of the Week, Chelsey Shumpert, with 16 points. Caldwell had 13 points, and Lytle had 12. Jada Perkins, Goodin-Rogers, Shumpert, and Lytle all had six rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs. Union shot 34 percent from the field, 29 percent (7-24) from beyond the arc, and 68 percent (15-22) from the free throw line. 

Avleeva led AUM with 14 points and 11 rebounds. AUM was 25 percent from the field, 23 percent (4-17) from beyond the arc, and 57 percent (12-21) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union is an away conference game at the University of North Alabama on Saturday, January 6 at 1 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-