BLUEFIELD, Va. – Bluefield University women's basketball erased a double-digit second-half deficit, but eventually fell to Union Commonwealth, 73–70, Wednesday evening inside The Dome.
Union Commonwealth opened the game with early perimeter shooting, but Bluefield answered with strong interior play.
Elle Gunter scored the Rams' first basket on a layup in the paint, then followed with another finish to keep BU within one.
Zoey Snavely knocked down a three-pointer midway through the quarter, and
Maddie Day added a late triple to trim the deficit to 19–14 after one.
The Rams gained momentum in the second quarter. Gunter continued to score inside, and Snavely hit another three to tie the game at 19–19. Day followed with a jumper to briefly give Bluefield the lead, while
Abby O'Quinn and
Anna Smith added baskets in the final minute to close the half strong. Union Commonwealth carried a 37–30 advantage into the break.
BU continued to battle in the third quarter. Gunter scored seven points in the period, including a three from the wing, and Smith converted a pair of free throws to keep the Rams within striking distance.
Ashanti Northcross added points at the line, but Union Commonwealth answered with timely perimeter shots to extend its lead to 55–46 entering the fourth.
The Rams made their push in the final period. Smith opened the quarter with a jumper off a steal, and Northcross scored on a fast-break layup to cut the deficit to six.
J'Maia Joseph added a transition basket, and O'Quinn hit two free throws to make it a one-point game late. With 1:47 remaining, Day drilled a clutch three-pointer to give Bluefield a 70–67 lead. Union Commonwealth responded at the line, regaining the lead with under 30 seconds to play. Day's final three-point attempt at the buzzer came up short.
Gunter led BU with a career-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds, shooting 10-of-15 from the floor. Northcross delivered a historic defensive performance, finishing with 12 points, five assists, and a program-record nine steals — the most by a Ram dating back to at least the 2003–04 season. Day finished with nine points, including the late go-ahead three, while Snavely contributed nine points and three assists. Smith added eight points, five rebounds, and a block, and O'Quinn chipped in four points and three assists off the bench.
Bluefield returns to action Thursday, hosting Appalachian Bible College at 5:30 p.m. inside The Dome.
