HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Union University women's basketball team avenged its first loss of the season with an 80-74 win at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. No. 15 Union improved to 3-1 on the season and 3-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Alabama Huntsville dropped to 2-2 overall and 2-2 in league play.
Union fell 62-60 Friday night at UAH.
Union stormed out to a big lead in the first quarter, leading 26-12 at the end of the quarter. The Lady Bulldogs continued to build their lead and at the half, led 45-25.
Union extended its lead to as many as 22 points several times in the third quarter, including a 56-34 advantage with 3:13 left. However, by the end of the third, UAH had cut the lead down to 16 points, 57-41. In the fourth quarter, UAH continued to chip away at Union's lead. Union's
Emily Beard hit a big 3-pointer after UAH cut the lead down to 11 points with six minutes remaining to slow the UAH run. The Chargers got the deficit down to single digits, 66-57, with 3:35 left but Union answered with a couple of free throws from
Jordan Little and a back-to-back 3-pointers from Beard. Union led by 15 points with 2:09 left and again with 1:23 left to play. A late flurry from UAH cut the final score down and following a 3-pointer with seven seconds left, the Chargers had cut the deficit down to just six points. The two teams swapped scoring possessions late to set the final at 80-74.
UAH outscored 49-35 in the second half, including 33-23 in the fourth quarter. UAH scored just 41 points in the first three quarters.
Union was led by
Shanique Lucas with a career-high 31 points.
Emily Beard finished with 19 points, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range. Union shot 54 percent from the field, including 46 percent (13-28) from long range, and 81 percent (21-26) from the free-throw line.
There were 47 turnovers in the game, 27 committed by Union, 17 of those 27 came in the second half.
UAH was led by Alexis Woods with 32 points and 13 rebounds. Holly Harris added 14 points. The Chargers shot 44 percent from the field, 30 percent (7-23) from 3-point range, and 90 percent (17-19) from the foul line.
Union is off for the Christmas break and plans to resume play in January. Check the Union website at
www.uuathletics.com for any updates to the schedules.
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