SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Union College women's basketball team doubled up Skidmore College 16-8 in the pivotal third quarter as the Dutchwomen got back on the winning track with a 54-47 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Williamson Center.
 
Sophomore Laura Vinton and senior Joana Santos both reached double figures for Union (7-8, 4-5 Liberty League), with Vinton netting a team-best 12 points and Santos adding 10 points. Sophomore Amber Raisner just missed a double-double with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while senior Elly Vaughan had another well-rounded game with eight points, seven boards, three assists and three blocks.
 
The Dutchwomen jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead thanks to a Vinton jumper and a Santos three-pointer, then build up its largest lead of the quarter after a three by freshman Kendall Degenhardt put the visitors up 8-2 with 6:32 left. Skidmore came back with an 11-3 run to take its first lead at 13-11 with 2:12 remaining, but Union scored the final six points to take a 17-13 advantage into the second.
 
The Thoroughbreds scored six of the second quarter's first eight points to knot the score at 19 and grabbed their first lead at 22-21 before Vinton sunk a three-pointer after an offensive rebound by Raisner to put Union back on top. Vinton had seven of Union's nine points in the second, as the teams went into halftime tied at 26.
 
The third quarter was the pivotal frame on the day, with the Dutchwomen doubling up Skidmore 16-8 to take control. Union scored the first nine points of the frame to take back the lead for good, led by threes from Santos and freshman Megan Lee, to take a 35-26 lead with 3:13 on the clock. The defense also held Skidmore to 0-of-10 shooting to start the quarter, as the visitors took a 42-34 lead into the final frame.
 
The home team scored the first four points of the fourth to get within four, but a three by sophomore Anna Metcalf capped a huge 8-2 that gave Union its largest lead of the day at 50-40 with 4:04 remaining. Skidmore got back within three at 50-47 with 1:40 left, but Vaughan hit a big layup on the next possession to halt the run and the defense kept Skidmore off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
 
Union limited Skidmore to 21.6 percent (8 of 37) shooting in the second half, including a 1-of-12 mark from beyond the arc, to secure the win. The Dutchwomen finished the game shooting 32.2 percent (19 of 59) from the field.
 
Union will return home to Viniar Athletic Center next weekend for two more conference games, beginning on Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Rochester Institute of Technology.