CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Delta State University 71-65 Monday night. Union, ranked No. 1 in both the WBCA and D2SIDA Media national polls, improved to 11-0 overall and 4-0 in the Gulf South Conference. Delta State fell to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
 
The win for Union snapped a seven-game winning streak for Delta State.
 
Union scored the first four points of the game on its way to a 9-2 early lead. Union continued to push, extending the lead to as many as 10 points, 16-6, with 5:12 left in the first quarter. DSU answered with 11 straight points to take its first lead, 17-16, before Union got the last basketball of the quarter to lead 18-17.
 
A three from Tiffany Rechis started the second quarter for Union, but the momentum didn't last. DSU took the lead again 23-21. The lead changed hands nine times in the second quarter with the home Lady Statesmen clinging to a 33-32 lead at the break.
 
The third quarter belonged to DSU, keeping the lead for the entire 10 minutes of play. Delta State extended its lead to as many as 10 points, 55-45 with 1:06 left. Union scored the final four points of the quarter to cut the deficit to just 55-49. Jada Smith kept the Lady Bulldogs in the game by scoring 12 of Union's 16 points in the third. 
 
Union battled their way back in the fourth quarter and with 5:32 left in the game, Jada Perkins hit a layup to tie the game at 59. The two teams swapped leads twice more until the game was tied 65-65 with 1:18 left to play. A jumper by Morgan Martin put Union up two. After a missed 3-pointer from the Lady Statesmen on the following possession, Perkins hit a pair of free throws to put Union up 69-65 with 22 seconds left. Union clinched the win when Smith hit two free throws with 13 seconds left. Union outscored Delta State 22-10 in the fourth quarter.
 
Union was led by Smith with her career high of 28 points. Martin recorded her fifth double-double on the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Perkins also contributed 10 points. Union shot 39 percent from the field, 26 percent (6-23) from long range, and 65 percent (15-23) from the free throw line.
 
DSU was led by Nia Johnson with 18 points and Patterson with 16 points and eight rebounds. Ewing recorded 10 points and seven rebounds. The Lady Statesmen shot 39 percent from the field, 17 percent (2-12) from 3-point range, and 64 percent (9-14) from the free throw line.
 
Delta State out rebounded Union 50-38. Union forced 13 DSU turnovers, while committing just 10.
 
Up next for Union is Fisk University, Friday, December 28 at Union at 5:30 p.m.
 
-UNION-