Union escapes with 54-51 women's basketball win

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The Hamilton College women's basketball team (3-4) dropped a 54-41 decision to Union College (5-1) Wednesday in non-league action at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House. The Dutchwomen scored the go-ahead basket with 31 seconds left and held on for the win when Hamilton missed a three-point shot 27 seconds later.

Union's Cailin Schmeer '16 hit a long jumper with 31 seconds to go to break a 51-all tie; Kate Thompson '15 pulled down the defensive rebound for the Dutchwomen after the Continentals missed a potential game-tying shot, then made a free throw to give Union a three-point lead. Hamilton's Olivia Pimm '14 rebounded Thompson's missed free throw to set up the Continentals for another shot at tying the game, but a three-point attempt from the top of the arc was off the mark and Union collected the rebound as time expired.

Samantha Graber '16 recorded her second double-double of the season for the Continentals, leading all players with 15 points and 11 rebounds. She also contributed three steals.

Schmeer scored a team-best 14 points off the bench for Union and pulled down seven rebounds. She had a team-leading five steals as Union scored 19 points off Hamilton's 23 turnovers.

Graber helped spur the Continentals to an 8-2 run that closed out the first half, sending Hamilton into intermission with a one-point lead. After the Dutchwomen opened a 31-26 lead with 5:06 remaining, they made just one of their final 11 attempts. Graber scored six of Hamilton's eight points in the run.

Union scored the first four points of the second half and remained in front until the 13:07 mark. After the Continentals took their final lead of the game (42-41 with 11:37 to go) on a free throw by Kate Bushell '17, Union went on a 6-0 run. Hamilton came back to pull within a point on a Graber lay-up with 2:11 remaining that cut Union's lead to 49-48, then tied the score with just under a minute left on a three-point basket by Serena Ward '16.

Kristin Schmidt '14 collected 13 points and seven rebounds. Thompson pulled down nine rebounds and Kelsey McDonald '14 led the Dutchwomen with seven assists.

Carly Gruenberg '16 finished with 10 points and nine rebounds for Hamilton and Pimm pulled down eight rebounds.

The Dutchwomen's win was their seventh in the past nine meetings, cutting Hamilton's advantage in the all-time series to 28-25.

The Continentals play a 6 p.m. game at Alfred Friday. Union is idle until traveling to Utica for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday.