Women's basketball can't withstand KCU runs

GRAYSON, Ky. - A series of Kentucky Christian runs were too much for Union to overcome, as the Bulldogs dropped a Tuesday Appalachian Athletic Conference women's basketball tilt by the final of 79-57.

Savannah Parker beat the buzzer to give the Knights a 22-19 lead at the end of the first quarter, then Kylie Gilliam and Jasmine Flowers proceeded to hit 3-pointers to start the second, to extend what went on to be a 13-0 run.

The Bulldogs fought back and kept things close well into the third quarter. And after Raigan King, who had a team-best 15 points and eight rebounds, made a layup, the deficit was trimmed to 42-37 with 7:21 to play in the third quarter.

But the offense went cold after that, going scoreless over the ensuing 5 minutes, 25 seconds, allowing the Knights to regain a double-digit advantage. The lead was trimmed to 52-44 on a pair of LeAsia Linton free throws early in the fourth quarter but it was all KCU the rest of the way, as the lead eventually extended beyond 20 points.

McKenzi Himes added 12 points and seven rebounds, with Gracie Jervis recording three steals for the Bulldogs, who fall to 3-21 overall and 3-17 in the AAC.

Union host St. Andrews on Friday in a rescheduled game originally slated to be played on Jan. 3.