TAMPA, Fla. - The Union University women's basketball team lost 77-67 at the University of Tampa Saturday after in the Tampa Crossover Classic. Union dropped to 1-1 on the season, while Tampa improved to 3-2 overall. Union entered the game ranked No. 19 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll and No. 12 in the D2SIDA Media Poll. Tampa was No. 11 in the WBCA poll and No. 16 in the media poll.  

Union scored first on a layup from Jaelencia Williams and jumped out to a 6-2 early lead. Tampa rallied to take the lead briefly, but Union tied the game at 11-11. Tampa started a 9-2 run and pushed its lead to 20-13 late in the quarter. Tampa led 22-18 at the end of the first. 

Union tied the game once in the second quarter, but Tampa was able to take control. The Spartans led by as many as 12 points, before taking a 40-33 lead into the locker room. 

In the third quarter, Union rallied to get to within two points, 47-45, but Tampa again held off the Lady Bulldogs and led 57-51 at the end of three quarters. 

After falling behind again by 10, Union had one last rally. Following a 3-pointer from Bethany Dillard, Union was down by three points, 67-64, with 3:16 left to play. However, Tampa again stopped a Union rally going back up by 11 points, before winning 77-67. 

Union was led by Williams with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Shanique Lucas added 16 points and Emily Beard scored 11 points. Union shot 41 percent from the field and just 23 percent (5-22) from 3-point range. Union made 71 percent (12-17) of its free throws. 

Tampa was led by Aliyah Abney with 26 points. Dori Nagy added 18, Erin Antosh scored 14, and Kayla Bonilla scored 10 points. The Spartans shot 46 percent from the field, 33 percent (4-12) from long range, and 75 percent (21-28) from the free-throw line. 

Up next for Union will be another matchup against a ranked team as No. 6 Central Missouri comes to Union, Saturday, November 20 for a 1 p.m. tip. 

-UNION-