EDIINBORO, Pa. - The Union University women's basketball team lost 112-94 to Minnesota State University Mankato in the final game of the 2025 D2CCA Tip-Off Classic. Union, ranked No. 2 in the WBCA preseason poll, dropped to 1-2. MSU Mankato, ranked No. 15 in the preseason poll, improved to 3-0. 

MSU Mankato won the NCAA D2 National Title in 2024 and looked to be back in championship form, having already defeated Edinboro 117-71 and California (Pa.) 98-53 in their two earlier classic games. MSU Mankato outscored Union 32-16 in the first quarter, including an 11-0 start to the game. Union's La'Sonja Hill got the scoring started for Union with a 3-pointer. Union's offense picked up for the rest of the game, scoring at least 21 points in each of the next three quarters, including 33 in the fourth quarter. However, the offense of MSU Mankato was just too much. Union trailed 61-37 at the half. Early in the fourth quarter, Union trailed by as many as 31 points twice before cutting the final deficit to 18 points, 112-94. 

Union had 12 players score in the game, including four in double figures. Kaitly Yoder led Union with 18 points, shooting 6-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Hill added 17 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from long range. Olivia Lee added 12 points with a team-high nine rebounds, while Nora Saffell added 10 points. Union shot 48 percent from the field, 46 percent (10-22) from 3-point range, and 79 percent (22-28) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union will be a fourth straight game away from home to start the season. Union travels to Kentucky State in Frankfort, Kentucky Friday, November 14, for a 3 p.m. contest. Union has played in Frankfort before, going 4-1 in the 2012 NAIA National Tournament, finishing runner-up in its final season in the NAIA.

-UNION-