JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Mississippi College 84-53 Thursday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium, David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 13-7 overall and 8-4 in the Gulf South Conference. Mississippi College dropped to 6-11 on the season and 5-7 in league play. 

Union defeated MC 113-72 in Clinton, Mississippi, in December to sweep the season series. 

Union opened the game with a 10-2 run over the first three minutes, including the first four points of the game. Mississippi College settled in and played Union to a 9-9 tie for the rest of the quarter. Union led 19-11 at the end of one. 

Early in the second quarter was much of the same with Union holding a 24-18 lead with 7:10 left in the half. Then, Union used another run to push its lead to double digits. A 13-2 run pushed Union's lead to 37-20 with 3:39 left in the half. A 3-pointer from Olivia Lee and Abigail Bryan's back-to-back three-pointers fueled the run. Union continued to add to the lead, going up 43-24 at the break. 

Union put up 22 more points in the third quarter to extend its lead to as many as 26 points (63-37), before taking a 65-40 lead into the fourth quarter. 

In the fourth quarter, Union held its largest lead of the night at 31 points with the 84-53 final. 

Union was led by Lee's 27 points and 10 rebounds. It was also her season high and the fourth time for the junior to reach 20-plus points. Her previous season high was 24, ironically, at Mississippi College in the first meeting. Maddie Gray added 11 points, while Abigail Bryan and Kaitlyn Yoder scored 10 points each. Union shot 42 percent from the field, 41 percent (15-37) from 3-point range, and 92 percent (11-12) from the free throw line. 

Union's 15 made three pointers were the fourth most in a game this year and most since 17 in the earlier win at Mississippi College in December. Union's almost 11 threes per game average is No. 1 in Division II. Union is second in the nation at just under 88 points per game. 

Mississippi College was led by Bigham with 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Choctaws shot 30 percent from the field, 26 percent (7-27) from long range, and 60 percent (6-10) from the foul line. 

Union's home game Saturday, January 24, versus Delta State has been postponed due to weather to Tuesday, January 27, at 5:30 p.m. at Union. Visit www.uuathletics.com for the most up-to-date information. 

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