ERIE, Pa. - The Union University women's basketball team officially opened the 2025-26 season Thursday night with a 66-51 loss at Gannon University. This was a match up of two schools that advanced to the NCAA D2 Elite Eight in the 2024-25 season.

The WBCA Preseason Coaches' Poll released in late October had Union at No. 2 and Gannon at No. 5. Gannon returned most of their team from a season ago, while Union is featuring nine new players.  

The game started slow with the score sitting at 3-2 Union, almost two minutes into play. Union led again, 6-5, following a 3-pointer from Kynidi Mason Striverson at the 7:24 mark. Neither team scored again until Gannon took a 7-6 lead at the 4:48 mark. Union led for the last time at 8-7, before trailing 13-10 at the end of the quarter. 

In the second quarter, the home team slowly extended its lead. Union cut the deficit to 25-20, before Gannon closed the half with four straight points to lead 29-20 at the break. 

Union's Courtney Zensen opened the third period with a 3-pointer to get Union to within six points. However, Gannon pushed its lead to double figures for the first time thanks to a 7-0 run, 36-23. Union got to within eight points midway through the third quarter, but Gannon again extended its lead to 50-37 at the end of three. 

A Gannon 3-pointer at the 7:44 mark was the first field goal of the fourth quarter. After two free throws from Union newcomer, La'Sonja Hill, Union got is first field goal of the fourth from Aubrey Sorrells at the 6:15 mark. Union got as close as 12 points, and trailed by as many as 19 points in the fourth, before ending with a 15-point loss. 

Last season's GSC Freshman of the Year and Montevallo transfer, Sorrells, led Union with 11 points, while Mason Striverson added 10 points. Ten players for Union scored in the game for Union. The Lady Bulldogs shot just 24 percent from the field, 24 percent (7-29) from long range, and 78 percent (14-18) from the foul line. 

Gannon was led by Claxon with 20 points, Ratliff with 14 points, and Wheatley with 12 points. Wheatley completed her double-double with 10 rebounds, while Popyk added a game-high 12 rebounds. Gannon shot 38 percent from the field, 27 percent (7-26) from 3-point range, and 65 percent (13-20) from the free throw line. 

The opening weekend D2 CCA Tipoff Classic does not get any easier for Union. Union takes on Ferris State Saturday at 4 p.m. central time. Ferris State is receiving votes in the WBCA Preseason Poll, however, knocked off No. 4 North Georgia in their game today. Follow the action at www.uuathletics.com/coverage. 

-UNION-