LEBANON, Ill. - The Union University women's basketball team lost 67-55 at McKendree University Thursday night. Union dropped to 2-1 on the season while McKendree improved to to 2-0.
Poor shooting slowed the Lady Bulldogs for the entire night, hitting just 32 percent of their shots, including only 11 percent (2-18) from the 3-point line. The McKendree defense shutdown the outside attack, holding Union to 0-of-10 from long range in the first half. The 18 attempts was the lowest total attempts from long range since Union attempted 17 versus Mississppi College December 12 of 2024. The two made 3's were the lowest total since Union hit two 3-pointers against MC November 25, 2023.
McKendree won the game without making a single 3-pointer on the night.
Leading the way for Union was
Grace Abram with 18, matching her season high, while
Olivia Lee scored 12 points. No other Union play scored in double figures. Union did not reach 20 points in any of the four quarters.
Union opened the game with the first four points on layups from Abram and
Claire Hyde. However, McKendree scored the next nine points to take and lead and never trailed again. Union trialed 20-16 after the first quarter. McKendree extended its lead to double figures for the first time at 27-17 midway through the second quarter, but clung to a 5-point halftime lead, 32-27. The second quarter was the only quarter in which Union outscored McKendree, 13-12.
Abram opened the second half with a layup, just as the did to start the game, to get Union to within three points. Union kept the deficit withing single digits for the entire third quarter, but never got closer than three points. McKendree led 48-40 after three.
In the fourth, McKendree quickly pushed the lead back to double figures and kept it there for the rest of the night. Union trailed by as many as 15 points several times in the fourth. A three pointer from
Tiara Hozumi with nine seconds left set the final at 67-55.
Abram and Lee also led Union with six and five rebounds respectively. The team also struggled from the free throw line, making just 11-of-19 foul shots at 58 percent.
McKendree was led by Baylie Parks with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Madison Johnson added 13 points. The Bearcats shot 49 percent from the field and 77 percent (17-22) from the free throw line. McKendree was 0-of-11 from long range.
Up next for Union will be a road game at Southern Arkansas University Friday, November 20 at 5:30 p.m. It will be the fourth of eight straight road games to start the season.
-UNION-
