Union rallies to edge Ephs, 82-73

Box Score

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Union College senior Michelle Rogers scored a career-high 38 points Sunday afternoon, leading the Dutchwomen to a second-half comeback that downed Williams College, 82-73.

The loss was the fourth straight for the Ephs, who slipped to 1-4 on the season. Williams will play host to RPI Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. Union improved to 3-0.

"Three things hurt us, " Ephs head coach Pat Manning said. "Rebounding, ball pressure and post defense. It just wasn't the defensive effort we needed for 40 minutes."

The first 20 minutes went well for the Ephs as they shot 45 percent (18 of 40) from the floor, 44.4 percent (4 of 9) from beyond the arc and 100 percent from the line en route to a 43-40 lead at the halftime break.

The Ephs built a 10 point lead with a 12-2 score 4:34 into the game. Union trailed by nine, 26-17 with 9:14 remaining in the first half, but went on a 14-6 run in 4:09 to pull to within one at 34-33 with 4:20 left. The Ephs never trailed in the first half of play.

The Dutchwomen trailed by five, 48-43 just 1:08 into the second half, but a Lauren McCormick layup made it 48-48 with 16:06 left, and Union took the lead for good on a three pointer by freshman Lindsay Hage with 15:29 remaining.

Union erased that five point deficit and took a five point lead with a 10-0 run for the 53-48 advantage to force a Williams' time out with 15:11 left. Williams later led 60-57, and 60-59 with 8:51 left, and the contest was knotted at 6-62 with 6:32 left after a jumper by Peterman.

But Union put the game away with a 13-5 run over the next 5:17 for the largest lead of the game, 75-67. Union outscored the Ephs, 13-2 in points off turnovers in the second half, and 22-6 in the paint during that period.

"We couldn't defend inside," Manning said. "Our post defense just isn't what we want it to be right now. We had a lapse defensively in the second half where we didn't rebound and they took advantage of that by running on us."

Willaims was led by senior guard Mika Peterman's 22 points along with six assists. Sophomore forward Chessie Jackson scored 15 points whilele sophomore Jessica Harris came off the bench to post a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. First-year Jill Greenberg posted 10 points and dished out five assists with four steals.

For Union, senior guard Rachel Scott also had a career high with 11 points while sophomore forward McCormick pulled down a personal best eight rebounds. Union had a 50-37 rebounding advantage on the game, while senior guard Maria Tobin added seven rebounds with eight points.