FLORENCE, Ala. - The Union University women's basketball team earned a 65-62 win at the University of North Alabama Saturday afternoon in a matchup of top-25 teams. Union, ranked No. 24 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll and No. 8 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, improved to 13-1 on the season and 6-0 in the Gulf South Conference. North Alabama, ranked No. 21 and No. 17 in the polls, suffered their first loss of the season, dropping to 13-1 and 6-1 in league play.
Union head coach Mark Campbell said, "Today was a game of swings. We got outplayed early. Chelsey really got us back in the game in the second quarter. From that point, our defense was really strong. We had different players step up and do little things that were the difference. We have a long way to go but this was a good win over a great team on the road. Very proud of our effort!."
After the first four minutes of play, the game was only 4-4 between two teams that average over 80 points per game on the season. North Alabama scored the next five points and extended their lead out to eight points, 18-10, by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, UNA's Ivy Wallen got a 3-pointer to put her team up by 11 points, 21-10. The Lions led again by 11 points, 23-12, at the 8:37 mark of the second quarter, matching their largest lead. Union's Chelsey Shumpert took over. She scored the first 11 points for Union in the second quarter and got the Lady Bulldogs back to within two points, 25-23. Sara Lytle got in on the action, tying the game with a layup with 3:50 left in the half. Five more points for Union's Shumpert, including her third 3-pointer, capped a 15-0 run for Union, putting the Lady Bulldogs in the lead. With 56 seconds left in the half, Union's Tiffany Rechis hit a 3-pointer, giving Union their largest lead of the first half. 35-28. Union went into the locker room up 35-30. Shumpert had 24 points in the first half for Union.
Union pushed their lead to their largest of the game, nine points, 44-35, with 7:24 left in the third quarter. North Alabama did not let Union extend their lead any more and cut the deficit to one point a few times late in the third quarter, including 54-53 by quarter's end.
North Alabama started the fourth quarter with a basket to regain a 55-54 lead. Union's Tiara Caldwell answered with a layup, followed by another two points for UNA. Union's Rechis hit a 3-pointer to put Union up 59-57, but then a shot by UNA tied the game at 59-59. Lylte put Union up for good, 62-59, with a 3-point play with 3:54 left in the game. UNA scored to get back to within one point with 3:11 left in the game. After neither team scored for over two minutes, Union's AnnaLea Little hit 1-of-2 free throws to put Union up 63-61. UNA then got to the line with a chance to tie. However, only one of two free throws kept Union with a 63-62 lead and only nine seconds left. After a UNA quick foul, Union's Lytle then hit both free throws, giving Union a 65-62 lead. UNA missed on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Union was led by Shumpert with a game-high 31 points, eight rebounds and seven steals. Lytle added 11 points and Rechis scored 10 points. Union shot 37 percent from the field, 23 percent (7-30) from 3-point range, and 71 percent (12-17) from the free throw line.
North Alabama was led by Brittany Panetti with 17 points. Emma Wallen added 13 points, while sister Ivy Wallen scored 11 points. The Lions shot 34 percent from the field, 16 percent (4-25) from long range, and 67 percent (14-21) from the free throw line.
Up next for Union will be a second straight road game, Tuesday, January 9 at Alabama Huntsville at 6 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online atwww.uuathletics.com/live.
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