JACKSON, Tenn. – The Valdosta State women's basketball team dropped a 90-61 decision at No. 14 Union Saturday afternoon.  VSU fell to 15-10 on the year and 10-9 in Gulf South Conference play, while Union improved to 24-3 and 19-1 in league play.
 
The Lady Blazers shot 53.2 percent from the field on 25 of 47 from the floor, while they were 4 of 13 from deep and 7 of 15 from the line.  Senior Kiersten Nelson and junior Mary McMorris each had 12 points to lead the team as Nelson was 6 of 10 from the field, while McMorris was 5 of 8. 
 
Union also shot better than 50 percent, going 32 of 55 from the field for a 58.2 clip, while the Lady Bulldogs were 11 of 25 from deep and 15 of 17 from the line.  Olivia Lee had a game-high 23 points on 7 of 13 from the field with one triple and was 8 of 8 from the line leading three players in double figures.  Shylee Morrison added 17 points off the bench and Bethany Dillard also chipped in 13 points with Union holding a 48-22 advantage in bench points.  Union forced VSU into 26 turnovers, leading to a 30-14 advantage in points off miscues as the Lady Bulldogs had 21 turnovers.
 
A 3-pointer by Morrison pushed Union's lead to 15-8 with 4:19 to play in the first quarter.  Senior Victoria Ikenasio answered with two buckets pulling VSU within 15-12 with 3:16 left in the opening frame.  VSU would keep fighting and trimmed the deficit to three at 20-17 on a jumper from sophomore Erin Whalen with 44 seconds left in the quarter, but the old fashion 3-point play from Jeremia Montgomery gave Union a 23-17 lead through ten minutes.
 
Union opened the second quarter on an 11-5 run for a 34-22 lead with 6:02 to play in the half.  Nelson and company trimmed the deficit to eight, but a triple from Courtney Zenzen pushed the lead back to double-digits at 37-26 with 4:49 to play in the half.  From there, Union closed the half on a 9-4 run for a 46-30 lead at the break.
 
The Lady Bulldogs pushed the lead to 20 early in the second half, but a nice run by the Lady Blazers cut the deficit to 11 with an 8-0 run capped on a layup from Nelson for a 52-41 score with 5:41 left in the third.  Union would use a 12-0 run over the next four minutes and change for a 64-41 score with 1:47 remaining in the frame.  Union held a 69-45 lead through 30 minutes. 
 
Union pushed the lead to as many as 39 in the fourth, but the Lady Blazers kept fighting and cut the deficit to the final margin of 29 at 90-61.
 
The Lady Blazers close out the regular season road slate Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET at Christian Brothers as the game will be broadcast on FOX 94.3 WJEM in Valdosta and www.foxsportsvaldosta.com with Jaylan Scott having the call.