ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Union College women's basketball team put together another excellent defensive effort as the Dutchwomen cruised to their season-high fourth straight win with a 62-41 victory at Bard College in Liberty League action on Tuesday night.
 
Senior Nicole Conley had a very efficient 19 points in just 19 minutes to lead a well-balanced attack for Union (10-3, 5-2 Liberty League), while junior Joana Santos chipped in nine points as well. Santos also led the defensive effort by helping to stifle the nation's leading scorer, Christina Kiser, to just eight points and seven turnovers over the first three-plus quarters.
 
The Dutchwomen wasted little time assuming control of the game, starting out on a 9-3 run and grabbing a 16-9 lead after one quarter. Seven different players scored exactly one bucket each for Union in the opening 10 minutes, while limiting the Raptors to 3-of-10 shooting and four turnovers.
 
Union extended its lead to 33-17 at the half with another solid second quarter, led by nine points from Conley.
 
All 12 players saw action in the second half for the visitors, with Conley scoring eight points early in the third before watching the remainder of the game from the bench. Freshman Laura Vinton chipped in six points in the second half to give her eight for the game, as the lead grew to as many as 25 points after a free throw from sophomore IreLee Ferguson put Union up 60-35 with 3:13 remaining.
 
For the night, Union shot 45.3 percent (24 of 53) from the field while limiting Bard to 22.6 percent (12 of 53) shooting and converting 18 turnovers into 22 points.
 
The Dutchwomen will return to conference play on Friday with a tough test at first-place Vassar College beginning at 5 p.m.