KCU owns 4th quarter in win over women's basketball

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Ahead by 12 points entering the final quarter, momentum quickly left the Union's women's basketball team, and the Bulldogs were never able to get it back.

Kentucky Christian opened the final period by hitting back-to-back 3s, and used relentless pressure to force seven Union turnovers, as the Knights outscored the Bulldogs 35-14 in the last 10 minutes to earn a 72-63 Appalachian Athletic Conference win at Robsion Arena Tuesday night.

Union was riding high well into the third quarter, and things seemed destined to break their way when an off-balance heave to beat the shot clock by LeAsia Linton found its way into the basket, giving Union a game-high 16-point lead with 6:12 to play in the quarter.

The Knights cut into it a bit, but things still seemed to be going in Union's favor when a pair of Ciara Uphoff free throws at the end of the quarter made it 49-37.

But KCU's early shots seemed to rattle the Bulldogs and before they could find their bearings, a white-hot Knight team couldn't miss. With 2:52 to play, Jada Higgins hit a layup to put the Knights up 59-58, their first lead since it was 2-0. They proceeded to outscore Union the rest of the way in a period where they hit an astounding 11-of-14 field goal attempts.

The ball control issues that plagued Union in the final frame were present all night, as the Bulldogs finished with 26 turnovers.

The loss spoiled a great tandem performance by McKenzi Himes and Gracie Jervis. Himes led Union with 18 points while Jervis had 15 with seven assists.

Union falls to 1-4 overall, 1-3 in the AAC. The Bulldogs will try to get back on track Thursday, when they travel to face Bluefield (Va.) at 5:30 p.m.