MONTREAT, N.C.— In its initial Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup of the year, the Montreat women's basketball team utilized a tremendous third quarter and efficient final frame to pick up a 71-50 victory over the Union College Bulldogs inside McAlister Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. With the result, the Cavaliers improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in AAC play.
 
The home side hit a pair of baskets early to lead 5-2; however, Union (0-3, 0-2 AAC) responded defensively, holding the Cavs to just one field goal make over the ensuing 11:18 of gameplay. Over the stretch, Montreat kept the contest close with eight makes at the free throw line to trail by five (19-14) after a quarter of action.
 
The Bulldogs built their advantage up to nine (24-15) before Ja'Liah Wilson ended the drought with back-to-back buckets. Wilson captained the team with seven points on 2-of-2 shooting and a 3-for-4 effort from the charity stripe through the first half. Thanks to 12 points off turnovers, the Cavs kept within striking distance, down 30-25 at the break.
 
A flurry of opportunities resulted in the best offensive quarter of the Cavaliers' season as Montreat continued to turn defensive stands into offensive chances. In a frame that saw the Cavs outscore the visitors 27-7, the home team immediately translated a pair of Union miscues into five points to knot the contest at 30 just 44 seconds into the period.
 
The trend continued throughout the entirety of the quarter when the Cavaliers made 10 of their 19 field goal attempts (52.6 percent) during the stretch, while holding the Bulldogs to a mere 15.4 percent clip (2-13 FG) over the third 10-minute segment. Thanks to the impressive quarter, Montreat flipped their 5-point halftime deficit into a 15-point edge.
 
Using momentum from the third quarter of action, the Cavaliers once again outscored their opposition in the final frame, 19-13, to finish out the competition. The Cavs stretched their lead to as many as 21 points en route to the dominant come-from-behind performance.
 
In total, Montreat forced 24 turnovers, converting those extra chances into 24 points. In contrast, the Cavaliers were able to limit their turnovers (13), and Union only produced seven points off those possessions. The Cavs rebounded to shoot 37.3 percent (25-67 FG), eight percent better than the Bulldogs (17-58 FG), who struggled mightily from the field in the latter half due to Montreat's pressure. Ten different Cavs scored on the day, while all 11 who saw action grabbed at least one rebound.
 
Wilson ended the contest with a team-high 13 points, Makayla Thompson added 12 and Aebri Graham rounded out the Cavaliers in double-digits with 10. Vaniyah Petty collected a team-best seven boards and Sydney Clevenger grabbed five.
 
Women's basketball plays St. Andrews University in its next contest, another battle in McAlister Gymnasium, on Tuesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.