JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team posted a 79-67 win over Christian Brothers University Thursday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium, David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in the Gulf South Conference. Christian Brothers dropped to 2-4 on the season, and 1-2 in league play.  

The difference in the game was the third quarter and first 5:40 of the fourth quarter when Union outscored CBU 45-29 in that 15-plus minute stretch. 

Christian Brothers opened the game with a 7-2 run. Union rallied back and kept the game close, cut the deficit to one point several times. Then with a pair of free throws from freshman Shanique Lucas at the 2:08 mark, Union took its first lead of the game, 19-18. A 3-pointer from another freshman, Leah Cauble with 1:19 left in the quarter gave Union a 23-18 lead, capping at 8-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs. Union matched its largest lead of the quarter, 25-20 at the end of the first.

Union extended its lead to as many as 34-26 following a Jaelencia Williams layup at the 6:25 mark of the second quarter. Union led for the entire quarter, despite being outscored 17-15 in the quarter, and held a 40-37 advantage at the half. Both teams shot over 52 percent from the field in the first half. Union held the slight advantage from long range, 50 percent (4-8) to CBU's 44 percent (4-9). CBU's Brynne Lytle had 17 first half points, while Union's Williams had 11 points to lead Union. 

CBU tied the game to open the second half with a 3-pointer from Taylor Williams. Union responded with six straight points to regain the lead. Cauble's third 3-pointer of the night followed by a coast-to-coast layup by Lucas gave Union it first double-digit lead of the night, 53-42, with 3:04 left in the third quarter. Union held its largest lead thus far, 57-44, at the end of three quarters. Union outscored CBU 17-7 in the third quarter. 

Union extended its lead to the largest of the night, 70-49, following a layup from Caroline Hogue with 4:20 left in the game. CBU got as close as 11 points down the stretch with a couple of late 3-pointers. Union hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the 79-67 win. 

Union was led by Williams with 25 points and eight rebounds. Jada Smith added 11 points, nine coming in the first half. Cauble scored 11 points, including 3-of-5 from three point range. All nine players for Union scored in the game. Union shot 51 percent from the field, 46 percent (6-13) from 3-point range, and 68 percent (13-19) from the free throw line. 

Christian Brothers was led by Williams with 21 points and Lytle with 20 points. Lytle was held to just a late 3-pointer in the second half after scoring 17 in the first half. Darcy Doran added 12 points. The Lady Bucs shot 44 percent from the field, 42 percent (10-24) from 3-point range, and 43 percent (2-7) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union will be the first GSC road game of the season, Monday, December 16 at Auburn Montgomery at 6 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-