MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat women's basketball team played its final game inside McAlister Gymnasium on Saturday. The Cavaliers hosted the Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup. The senior day festivities before the contest filled the game with emotion. Unfortunately, the emotions were spoiled as the Bulldogs (9-17, 8-12 AAC) beat the Cavs by a score of 78-76.
 
In the first quarter, the Cavaliers (16-9, 13-7 AAC) got out to a great start. Already leading 14-7, Montreat went on a 10-0 run courtesy of back-to-back triples from Maddie Ferrara and pairs of free throws from both Rymiah Sanders and Carolina Robinson. At the end of the first, the Cavs led 24-10.
 
The second frame was a stalemate. Union couldn't cut back into the Montreat lead by enough, and the Cavaliers matched any attack that the Bulldogs threw their way. Neither team scored three unanswered baskets in the entire quarter. Ferrara scored eight of the Cavaliers' 20 points in the frame from two more trifectas and a jumper. When halftime came, Montreat still led, this time to the tune of a 44-34 scoreline.
 
After the break, UCU found its groove and chipped away at the Montreat lead, outscoring the Cavs by just three points in the quarter. Sanders scored seven in the frame, followed closely by Ferrara's five-point effort. The Bulldog momentum only grew approaching the last frame of basketball ahead.
 
To start the concluding quarter, the Bulldogs dominated with an 11-2 run. On their heels, the Cavs fought back, keeping the game within reach; however, Montreat could not hold on down the stretch. Union finished the game on a 10-4 run that proved to be too much for the Cavaliers to overcome. Union came out on top 78-76.
 
Individually for the Cavs, Ferrara led the way with 20 points in her final performance in McAlister. She also tallied two rebounds and assists, along with a block. Sanders scored 19 points, and Edmondson finished her career in McAlister with 15. Both Sanders and Edmondson tied with four assists, leading the Cavs. They were also part of the trio that led with six rebounds, joined by Grace Rinaldo.
 
Collectively, Montreat shot 32-for-71 from the floor, good enough for 45.1 percent. The Cavs hit six 3-pointers on 25 attempts for 24.0 percent. From the foul line, Montreat scored 85.7 percent of their attempts going 6-for-7. The Cavaliers scored more bench points (36-9), points in the paint (38-32) and points from turnovers (25-17) than the Bulldogs in the loss.
 
The Cavaliers will be back in action on Monday, Feb. 17 for an away nonconference game against the Johnson & Wales University Wildcats in Charlotte, N.C. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.