JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team posted an 85-66 win over Christian Brothers University Saturday at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the Gulf South Conference. Christian Brothers dropped to 2-6 on the season and 1-2 in league play.

Union opened the game with five quick points on a layup from Jaelencia Williams and a 3-point play by Shanique Lucas. Union stretched its first-quarter lead to as many as 10, 19-9, before settling for the 20-12 end of quarter lead. 

In the second quarter, Christian Brothers made a 12-7 run, all points coming by way of the 3-pointer, to cut the deficit to 27-24. With 3:35 left in the half, Union's Samariah Thompson hit the first 3-pointer of the game for the Lady Bulldogs, pushing the lead back to 23-32. Union maintained a lead until the 10th three-pointer of the half by CBU tied the game at 33-33. All 21 points for CBU in the 2nd quarter came from 3-pointers. Union scored the final four points to take a 37-33 lead at the half.

CBU was 10-of-19 from long range in the first half, while Union was just 1-of-8. From the field, Union outshot CBU 42 percent to 39 percent in the first 20 minutes. 

The Lady Bucks opened the third quarter with yet another 3-pointer. From the final points of the first quarter for CBU until a made free throw with 4:15 left in the third quarter, 33 straight points came by via the 3-pointer. 

Despite the 3-point flurry for CBU, Union maintained the lead. A 3-pointer for Union, just its second of the game to this point, by Emily Beard Dunnigan gave Union a 52-42 lead with 4:34 left. Union took its largest lead of the night, 62-45, on a perfectly executed backdoor play from Sadie Knee to Lucas at the buzzer.

Over the last seven minutes of the half, Union outscored CBU 19-3, including 10 from Williams alone, giving her 27 points at the end of three quarters. Union outscored CBU 25-12 in the third.

Union pushed its lead to 20 for the first time at 68-48 early in the fourth quarter. Union cruised to the 85-66 win. 

Union was led by Williams with a career-high 33 points. She added 12 rebounds for a double-double and also shot 13-18 from the field and 7-of-11 from the foul line. Lucas added 19 points and six assists. Ashtyn Baker scored 11 points, all in the second half. Union shot 50 percent from the field, 25 percent (4-16) from 3-point range, and 71 percent (17-24) from the free throw line. 

Christian Brothers was led by Emily Jones with 27 points including five 3-pointers. Yaya Coleman added 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Bucs shot 38 percent from the field, 44 percent (15-34) from 3-point range, and 75 percent (9-12) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union will be its first GSC road games of the year. Union travels to Mississippi College Saturday, December 18 at 2 p.m. and then Delta State Monday, December 20 at 5:30 p.m.

-UNION-