POTSDAM, N.Y. -- Katlyn Cunningham scored nine of her team-high 14 points in the second half and Clarkson missed three layup attempts that would have given it the victory with under 10 seconds remaining as Union avoided the Golden Knight"s upset bid, 46-45, in an Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association contest.

Cunningham"s rebound and layup with 2:23 left to play gave the Dutchwomen a 46-39 advantage before Clarkson came roaring back on field goals by Bridget Sweeney and Erika Fritjofson before Sarah Wesner pulled the hosts to within one as she sank two free throws with 1:04 left.

Nicole Cerngelia"s steal gave Union the ball back with 19 seconds remaining, but the Dutchwomen missed a pair of free throws with Clarkson"s Kate Quist getting the rebound. Junior guard Linda Fernandez quickly brought the ball down court for the Golden Knights, but hers was the first of three layup attempts that refused to fall as time expired.

The victory gave the Dutchwomen an overall record of 19-3. More importantly, however, the Garnet improved to 11-1 in the conference and maintained its hold on first place with two games remaining in the regular season. Should Union go on to win its first conference"s regular-season title, it would host the UCAA"s postseason championship tournament the weekend of February 27 and 28. The winner of that event earns the conference"s berth in the NCAA tournament.

Trailing by three at the half, the Dutchwomen opened the second 20 minutes by outscoring the hosts 9-3 to take a 29-26 lead with 12:07 left on Cunningham"s basket off an offensive rebound. Clarkson"s final lead came with 10:31 remaining, 30-29, when Fernandez went coast-to-coast after coming up with one of her five steals.

Cunningham scored the game"s next three points on a driving layup and free throw before a pair of points from the foul line by Melissa Marra helped Union increase its margin to 34-30 with 8:44 left to play.

The first half saw the Dutchwomen go into the locker room on the short end of a 23-20 score thanks, in part, to a pair of scoreless streaks that lasted for 6:07 and 5:56. After scoring nine consecutive points to jump out to a 9-2 lead with 17:21 remaining, Union"s first drought allowed the Knights to score the game"s next nine points to take an 11-9 lead with 12:14 left.

Erika Eisenhut"s three-point basket at 11:14 not only broke the first drought, it started the Dutchwomen on a 7-0 run that lifted them to a 16-11 advantage with 9:41 left. Clarkson, however, came back to score 12 of the game"s next 16 points. Nicole Cerniglia"s basket at the seven-minute mark gave Union an 18-15 advantage, but the Dutchwomen did not score again until Courtney Shepard"s hoop with 1:04 left helped Union to a 20-17 lead. Bridget Sweeney"s three-point basket with 49 seconds left tied the game before Erika Fritjofson"s tres with seven seconds remaining provided the Golden Knights with their three-point halftime lead.

Union shot only 26.7 percent in the first half (eight-of-30) and turned the ball over nine times while suffering three blocked shots.

Eisenhut"s nine points followed Cunningham on the Dutchwomen"s scoring list with Nicole Cerneglia leading the Garnet on the boards with eight.