SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Union University women's basketball team fell 70-57 to the University of Central Missouri in the NCAA D2 Final Four at Sanford Pentagon. Union ends their season at 32-4, while Central Missouri improved to 29-3 on the season. 

Union ends their history season following their first south region title and first trip to the NCAA D2 Elite Eight and Final Four. The 32 wins for Union was the most since joining the NCAA in 2012-13 and the most since 35 wins in 2011-12. 

Union head coach Mark Campbell said, "Give credit to Central Missouri for being prepared and playing well and making shots. I felt like we were gassed in this game. But we never stopped fighting. We got as close as five late but just did not have enough left. I wish we would have hit more shots but I am proud of our effort. I feel like this is the most successful seasons we've had because hearts were changed during this season. My heard is full and I'm very proud of this team."

Union scored the game's first points with a layup from Sara Lytle. A 6-0 run followed for the Central Missouri Jennies. Union's Jada Perkins then hit a 3-pointer to cut Union's deficit to 6-5. the teams swapped baskets over the next three possessions including a fifth straight point for Perkins. At the first media timeout, Union trailed 10-7 with 4:57 left in the first quarter. A pair of free throws from Chelsey Shumpert and one from Bria Gaines tied the game 10-10. Union took a brief lead when Gaines capped a 5-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs, 12-10 with 2:43 left in the quarter. Union led again 16-14, but a late 3-pointer for Central Missouri put the Jennies up 17-16 at the end of the first quarter. 

Perkins scored the first basket on Union's first possession of the second quarter to put Union back up 18-17. UCM answered with a 10-1 run to lead 27-19 with 5:43 left in the half, forcing Union into a timeout. Union got a basket from Gaines, but the Jennies quickly pushed their lead to double figures, 32-21, with 2:10 left in the half. Union got as close as seven late in the half when Sara Lytle converted a 3-point play, but UCM scored a basket with 49 seconds left to lead 34-25 at the break. 

Perkins and Gaines led Union with seven points each. Union was just 1-of-4 from 3-point range and shot 42 percent from the field. Central Missouri took eight more shots than Union, shooting 52 percent from the field, but just 1-of-10 from long range. Union's 25 points was the lowest point total in a half this season and the 21 shot attempts match their lowest attempts in a half. 

The teams swapped baskets to open the third quarter. However, a couple of 3-pointers from the Jennies push their lead to 15 points, 44-29 with 7:28 left to play. Union cut the deficit to 10 points, but USM quickly matched their largest lead of 15, 53-38. With Union trailing 55-40 with 3:02 left in the third quarter, the Lady Bulldog closed the half with an 8-0 run, including five points from Shumpert. Union trailed 55-48 at the end of the third quarter. 

Union cut the lead to five points, 60-55 with 5:36 left to play following a 3 pointer form Kyvin Goodin-Rogers. The Jennies stopped the run with a layup to go back up by seven points, 62-55, at the final media timeout with four minutes left in the game. Lytle's layup with 2:45 left cut the UCM lead to five again, 62-57. The Jennies answered with a basket to go back up by seven points with 1:57 left to play. Union missed on a 3-pointer and was forced to put the Jennies on the line. Two frees throws and UCM led 66-57 1:16 left. Another miss by Union and Central Missouri hit two more free throws to go back up by double figures, 68-57. A Union turnover gave the Jennies the ball with 44 seconds left. Two more free throws and UCM led 70-57 and won by that score. 

Union was led by Perkins and Lytle with 16 points each. Shumpert scored 14 in the loss. Goodin-Rogers led with seven rebounds. Union shot 43 percent from the field, 24 percent (4-17) from long range, and 64 percent (7-11) from the free throw line. 

Central Missouri was led by Skaggs with 15 points, Lee with 14 points, Williams with 13 points, and Redmond with 12 points. The Jennies shot 49 percent from the field, 26 percent (5-19) from 3-point range, and 79 percent (11-14) from the free throw line. 

-UNION-