CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Union University women's basketball team posted a 62-59 win at Delta State University Thursday night. Union improved to 14-3 overall and 8-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Delta State dropped to 13-2 on the season and 6-2 in league play. 

Union and Delta State entered the game tied for first place in the GSC standings and also both ranked in the two national polls. Both teams received votes in the WBCA Coaches' Poll, while both teams earned top-25 rankings in the D2SIDA Media Poll, Delta State at No. 15 and Union at No. 21. 

Union led by as many as 10 points in the first half and then by as many as 12 points in the third quarter. The Lady Bulldogs were up 38-26 with 5:30 left in the third quarter. Delta State rallied with a 19-6 run and following a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left in the quarter, took a 45-44 lead. Union's Jada Smith hit a shot at the buzzer to put Union back on top, 46-45. 

In the fourth quarter, Delta State led by as many as five points, 53-48, with 8:16 left. Union rallied and tied the game on a 3-pointer from Emily Beard with just over five minutes remaining. Union never trailed the rest of the way, however, the game was tied twice more in the final minutes. With the score 59-59 less than a minute left, Union's Jada Smith hit a pair of free throws after drawing a foul. Delta State missed on a shot to tie the game and Union got the rebound. Jacie Higgins hit one-of-two free throws to give Union the three point advantage. DSU missed on a last 3-point attempt to tie. 

DSU scored the first four points of the game, but Union gained control of the first half and led 29-22 at the half. 

The game featured five ties and nine lead changes. 

Union was led by Jada Smith with 28 points and nine rebounds. Smith was just one point shy of her career high of 29 points in a game. However, the senior did surpass 1,500 points for her career in the win. Jaelencia Williams added 11 points and eight rebounds. Union shot 47 percent from the field, 30 percent (3-10) from 3-point range, and 75 percent (9-12) from the free throw line. 

Delta State was led by Quantesha Patterson with 26 points and 15 rebounds. Nia Johnson scored 17 points. The Lady Statesmen shot 35 percent from the field, 13 percent (2-15) from long range, and 81 percent (13-16) from the free throw line. 

 Union continues the road trip at Mississippi College, Saturday, January 18 at 2 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-