The St. Lawrence University women's basketball team started its league campaign with an eight-point win over Union on Friday afternoon in Burkman Gymnasium.

Jackie Malley led the Saints with a dozen points, and ten different players got in the scoring column.

The Saints missed their first four shots, and did not score until the 5:30 mark in the first quarter, but from there on they out-scored Union by 13 to lead 17-8 after 10 minutes. Malley and Olivia Middleton hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the second quarter and the Scarlet and Brown led by 15. A late run by the Dutchwomen kept the game from being a blowout, and the Saints led at halftime 33-17.

The Saints shot 44-percent from the floor in the first half, and Union was 50-percent from the field in the second quarter.

Union, who was 0-for-5 from deep in the first half, went to the paint in the second half and came out with two quick buckets to tie the game. They led by as many as five in the quarter, but at the end of three the score was tied at 45 apiece.

The Saints' defense locked down the Dutchwomen in the final quarter, giving up just one field goal off 15 attempts. First-year Caelan McHarney had all four of her points in the final quarter, including two late free throws to ice the game, and the Saints won 58-50.


"Union played very well tonight and gave us everything we could handle," said head coach Dan Roiger. "At times we executed our defensive game plan very well and it led to good runs, then at other times we had major breakdowns and they went on runs. We have to learn to be more consistent with our mental focus and intensity. We did a great job on the boards tonight and Caelan McHarney had a great game off the bench for us, especially defensively where she was a difference maker."

McHarney had a well-rounded six rebounds, four steals, four points for the Saints. Middleton had nine points, and Olivia Barringer had a season-high 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

Kendall Degenhardt had a game-high 18 points to lead Union, with Kennedy Clark and Elizabeth Pica also finishing with double digits.

The Saints' bench scored 24 points, compared to Union's two. The Saints scored 14 second-chance points.

Records: St. Lawrence (3-1, 1-0), Union (2-3, 0-1)
Up Next: Skidmore on Saturday, December 3^rd at 2 p.m. in Burkman Gymnasium