MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team posted an 80-67 win at Christian Brothers University Monday night. Union, ranked No. 6 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll and No. 7 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, improved to 23-1 overall and 15-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Christian Brothers dropped to 9-12 on the season and 6-10 in league play. 

The game was moved as the last minute down the road to Rhodes College after a week of intense rains caused a leak in the gym roof at CBU. 

Union's Morgan Martin grabbed 21 rebounds in the game to go with her 28 points. The 21 rebounds in a game is good for fourth all-time at Union. Stephanie Clark's 24 rebounds versus Freed-Hardeman in 2005 still stands as the record. 

The first quarter was a fast paced, closely played 10 minutes of basketball with Union edging CBU 23-20 at the end of the quarter. Union continued its hot shooting in the second quarter as the Lady Bulldogs began to pull away. Union scored the first seven points of the quarter to push out to a 10 point lead, 30-20. Union added to the lead, going up by as many as 14 points twice in the second quarter. Union settled for a 10 point, 46-36 halftime lead. 

In the third quarter, Union quickly went back up by 14 points, 52-38, with 8:19 left in the quarter. However, a very short handed CBU team with only six players kept fighting as Union struggled to make shots. Union went over three minutes without scoring, while CBU cut its deficit to single digits. The Lady Bucs cut the lead to just five points, 58-53, late in the quarter, before Morgan Martin's layup gave Union a 60-53 lead entering the fourth quarter. 

CBU continued to cut into the lead and after opening the quarter with a 6-2 run, had pulled to within three points, 62-59, of Union. Union's Kennedy Childers then started a 6-0 run with a layup to push Union's lead back to nine points, 68-59, with 4:55 left. After, CBU stopped the run, Childers drained a 3-pointer to give Union a double digit lead once again, 71-61, with 3:32 left. Union pulled away down the stretch with the help of a 3-point play from Martin to put Union up 77-65 with 2:22 left. Union hit 7-of-9 free throws in the final three minutes to seal the win. Union matched its largest lead of 14 points, 79-65, before taking the 80-67 final. 

Union out-rebounded Christian Brothers 42-28, while CBU won the turnover battle, committing just 10 to Union's 15. 

Union was led by Morgan Martin with 28 points and 21 rebounds. Jada Smith scored 14 points and Tiffany Rechis added 12 points on four 3-pointers. Jada Perkins scored 10 points and dished out 12 assists. Perkins as recorded 26 assists over her past two games. Union shot 46 percent from the field, 30 percent (8-27) from 3-point range, and 84 percent (16-19) from the free throw line. 

Christian Brothers was led by Lytle with 26 points. Jones and Enochs both added 13 points. The Lady Bucs shot 37 percent from the field, 26 percent (5-19) from long range, and 72 percent (18-25) from the free throw line. 

Up next will be a pair of home games, starting Thursday at 5:30 p.m. versus Montevallo. 

-UNION-