PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Union University women's basketball team dropped a conference game on the road against West Florida Friday night. Union, ranked No. 5 in the WBCA poll and No. 5 in the D2SIDA Media poll, fell to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the Gulf South Conference. West Florida improved to 4-4 overall and 4-2 in league play.
Union started the fourth quarter down by 18 points. The Lady Bulldogs scored 11 straight points to start the fourth, cutting the deficit down to seven. With 1:37 left in the game
Shanique Lucas tied the game up at 67-67 with a layup in the paint. West Florida scored the next three points to take a 70-67 lead. Union's
Samariah Thompson scored to cut the deficit to just one. After a West Florida turnover, Union had the ball with 11 seconds left. However, an offensive foul on Thompson gave the ball back to UWF, hitting two free throws to seal the win.
West Florida came out hot starting the first five minutes of the game off with a 9-0 run. They held the lead for the entire first half. Union slowly gained their legs, eventually tying the game up 10 seconds into the second quarter. West Florida retook the lead and didn't look back extending their lead to 18 at the half. In the first half, West Florida shot 46 percent from the field and 54 percent from beyond the arc. Union shot 41 percent from the field and an even 50 percent from beyond the arc.
Rebounds and free-throws were key to West Florida's upset win. Union shot 56 percent from the free-throw line and West Florida shot 71 percent. West Florida also out rebounded Union 40-30.
Samariah Thompson posted a career high 28 points going 11-17 from the field, 2-4 from beyond the arc, and 4-7 at the charity stripe.
Naomi Van Ness commanded the boards leading the team with six rebounds
West Florida was led by Jaclyn Jarnot who had 24 points and 16 rebounds.
Up net for Union is a conference match up on the road as they take on the Blazers of Valdosta State University. The game is set to take place, Sunday, December 11 at 1:00 p.m.
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