BARBOURVILLE, Ky.— The Montreat women's basketball team went on the road for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup with the Union College Bulldogs Thursday evening. Though the Cavs battled, Union eventually topped the visitors 67-50 as Montreat dropped to 11-12 (8-10 AAC) on the season.
 
Both teams struggled with turnovers in the early going, but the Cavaliers utilized second-chance opportunities and five Union miscues to lead 7-6 midway through the first quarter. Montreat hampered the Bulldogs' offense in the opening frame, forcing seven errors and holding the home team to 4-of-14 shooting (28.6 percent), to lead 12-10 after 10 minutes of action.
 
Union (14-8, 9-8 AAC) started the second period on a tear, converting five of its initial six attempts from the field to establish a 21-16 advantage 3:57 into the quarter. The Cavs then responded with five straight points thanks to a pair of Bulldog mistakes and an and-one from Caleigh Raby to knot the game at 21 before Raby finished through contact again seconds later to put the visitors on top 23-21. The senior from Hudson, N.C. notched seven consecutive points for the Cavaliers, who went into the halftime intermission with a 25-24 lead.
 
Though Montreat shot worse (36.7 percent; 11-of-30 FG) in the first half than Union (43.5 percent; 10-of-23 FG), the Cavs forced 15 Bulldog errors to hold their one-point edge. The Cavaliers attempted seven more shots than the home team, while translating Union's miscues into 12 points. Raby captained all scorers with 12 points entering the last two frames.
 
The beginning of the third featured three lead changes capped off by a Bulldogs quick 8-0 spurt that saw the team lead by six (34-28) halfway into the quarter. Following a Raby bucket that trimmed Montreat's deficit to four, Union immediately extended its lead to double digits with another fast run. Raby scored all six of the Cavaliers' points in the third; however, the visitors committed seven turnovers in the period, which allowed the Bulldogs to go into the final quarter with a 43-31 advantage.
 
Raby, who concluded the matchup with a game-high 24 points on 10-of-22 shooting, tried to keep the Cavs within striking distance in the fourth, but Union's offense started fired on all cylinders. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to as many as 23 in the last frame as they cut down on turnovers, ultimately defeating the Cavaliers by a score of 67-50.
 
Montreat shot 35.0 percent (21-60 FG) overall, while connecting on five of its 26 3-point attempts (19.2 percent) on the evening. Ten different Cavs registered made baskets in the contest. Union drained 25 of its 51 shots (49.0 percent), including 33.3 percent (6-18 3-pt FG) from downtown. The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Cavaliers 39-31 and turned the tide in the second half to win the points-off-turnovers battle 20-18.
 
Women's basketball returns home on Saturday for its senior day festivities. The Cavaliers play host to the Emory & Henry College Wasps, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in McAlister Gymnasium.