Women's basketball can't hang with Lindsey Wilson in opener

COLUMBIA, Ky. - Growing pains are usually to be expected at the start of a new coaching regime, and the Union College women's basketball team is no exception.

Lindsey Wilson raced out to a 28-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and maintained control throughout at 74-42 win in the coaching debut of Aleka Carr Friday night.

Turnovers were a problem from the start, as the Bulldogs committed nine in the first quarter and 28 on the night, which led to 21 Blue Raider points. Union also struggled shooting, hitting just 31 percent of its field goal attempts, 19 percent of its 3-pointers and, perhaps most damagingly, 53 percent (9-of-17) of its free throw attempts.

LeAsia Linton led Union in nearly every statistical category, scoring 12 points, grabbing nine rebounds and distributing four assists. One of the top shooters in the country last season, McKenzi Himes was as efficient as ever, scoring eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.

The Bulldogs open both the home and Appalachian Athletic Conference portion of their schedule on Wednesday, hosting Reinhardt at 6 p.m.