MONTREAT, N.C. — The Montreat College women's basketball team dropped its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener on Wednesday evening, falling to the Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs by an 85-73 scoreline. Following their first defeat inside McAlister Gymnasium this season, the Cavaliers' record moved to 3-3 (0-1 AAC), while UCU improved to 2-2 (1-0 AAC).
Sarah Williams opened the contest's scoring off an
EK Walraven assist,
Mariia Fedoseeva drained a triple following a feed from
Katie Alexander and
Kailah Crawford scooped up a missed shot before registering a putback basket. Those three makes staked the hosts out to a 7-4 edge just over three minutes into the initial quarter of play. Walraven sank a look from deep, knotting the two teams at 11-11 with 3:31 remaining in the frame; however, the visitors rattled off a 13-2 run over the ensuing 3:07.
Kara Connor delivered a three-point play late in the period, but a six-turnover quarter coupled with nine points off those miscues enabled Union Commonwealth to enter the second in front, 24-15.
UCU continued to surge thanks to an emphasis on paint scoring and second chances. The Bulldogs expanded their lead up to 32-17 less than four minutes into the frame. Connor and Williams also capitalized on an extra crack at the basket, with the former grabbing an offensive rebound to set up Williams' triple midway through the quarter. A steal and fastbreak layup created the visitors' largest lead of the night, 36-20, with 4:42 left in the half, but the Cavs closed out the frame on a high note.
Nuria Rubio and Williams drained shots from the perimeter, while Walraven converted at the charity stripe to slash the hosts' deficit to 41-35 prior to halftime.
Ayanna Varela notched the initial four points of the third quarter, clawing Montreat back within two points. Union Commonwealth responded, though, pouring in 10 straight points to move ahead by double figures at 51-39. The Cavaliers relied on defense to try and work their way back, forcing four consecutive turnovers across a 1:35 stretch midway through the period. Walraven,
Se'Nai Camper and Varela tallied steals during the span, and both Walraven and Varela cashed those thefts in for baskets down low. The home side totaled five steals, two blocks and eight points off turnovers in the frame, yet the Bulldogs pieced together enough answers to still lead 59-49 with 10 minutes to go.
Serenity Pennington delivered a spark off the bench, scoring six points in less than four minutes to trim the gap to 65-59 by the 6:03 mark. Walraven then tacked on two free throws, bringing the hosts within four points midway through the final quarter. Fighting an uphill battle against momentum, UCU mustered a game-sealing 10-2 run. The span put the visitors in the lead, 75-63, with 2:17 left in regulation. In the end, Union Commonwealth held on to win by 12 points, 85-73.
"We didn't come ready to play, and in conference, that can't happen," said Head Coach
Jamie Moore. "Every team is going to bring their best every night."
The Bulldogs wrapped up the contest with the shooting edge, going 53.4 percent from the floor (31-58 FG), 35.7 percent from deep (5-14 3-pt FG) and 66.7 percent from the line (18-27 FT) compared to the Cavs' 38.7-percent showing from the field (24-62 FG), 27.3-percent effort from deep (9-33 3-pt FG) and 69.6-percent performance at the stripe (16-23 FT). UCU also accumulated more points in the paint (50-24), rebounds (45-29) and fastbreak points (10-4).
Williams scored 22 points and added four assists, three steals and a block. Walraven finished with 14 points, four rebounds, two helpers and two thefts while going 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. Varela recorded nine points, six boards, three steals, two assists and a block.
The Montreat College women's basketball team remains at McAlister Gymnasium for its next action on Wednesday, Nov. 18, versus Columbia International University. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. in Montreat, N.C.
