SCHENECTADY, N.Y.Courtney Shepard and Erika Eisenhut each scored 14 points and Katlyn Cunningham chipped in with 10 as Union defeated Hamilton, 66-52, in an Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association womens basketball game in Memorial Field House.

The victory moved Union one step closer to clinching its first Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association regular-season championship. The Dutchwomen are now 10-0 in the conference and have a two and a half game lead over second place Rensselaer with four games remaining in the regular-season. The Garnet, now 18-2, has won 13 in a row and are undefeated during the 2004 portion of its schedule. The Dutchwomen will close out their regular season on the road with games against St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Vassar, and Rensselaer the next two weekends.

The conferences regular-season champion will host the UCAAs postseason tournament the weekend of February 27 and 28 with the events champion earning an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.

Trailing 3-0, the Dutchwomen went on a 17-2 run for a 17-5 lead at 13:12. Sophomore forward Courtney Shepard fueled the charge by scoring four layups, including three in a row. Union took a 16-point lead in to the half, 36-20, as Erika Eisenhut and Nicole Cerniglia each connected on a three-point field goal.

Union put the game away early in the second half as it opened the second 20 minutes with a 16-6 run that gave the Dutchmen a 52-26 lead with 13:44 remaining.

Hamilton, now 11-7 overall and 4-5 in the UCAA, was led by Missy Nelson and Tricia Czeski, who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.