SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Despite a career-best game from junior Kendall Degenhardt, the Union College women's basketball team came up a few possessions short against #17/25 Springfield College, falling by a 64-56 score on the final day of the Hampton Inn/West Springfield Naismith Classic on Sunday afternoon.
 
Degenhardt was the catalyst of the Union (3-6) offense, hitting 6-of-9 shots from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc on the way to a career-high 18 points. Senior Amber Raisner chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and a team-best five assists to earn a spot on the All-Touranment Team, while classmate Laura Vinton grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds. Junior Olivia Pachla joined Raisner on the All-Tournament Team as well.
 
Sam Hourihan had a big game in the middle for the undefeated Pride (12-0), leading all players with 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
 
The Dutchwomen jumped out to an early 7-3 lead thanks to a three from Degenhardt and layups by Raisner and Pachla. Union went nearly six minutes without a point, but the defense limited Springfield's chances to keep the game within reach. Jumpers from senior Darby Leid and junior Megan Lee helped keep it a one-possession game (14-11) in favor of the home team after one quarter.
 
Union scored the first seven points of the second stanza to build up an 18-14 lead 2:33 into the frame, with Degenhardt adding another three-pointer during the run. A 12-2 run put the Pride back in front by seven, but the visitors got back within three before a late three-pointer put Springfield up 33-27 at the half.
 
Degenhardt led Union with 11 points after 20 minutes. The visitors shot just 39.3 percent (11 of 28) from the field, but limited Springfield to just 12-of-37 shooting (32.4 percent) to stay in the game.
 
Springfield outscored Union 17-10 in the third quarter to assume control of the contest. The Pride scored eight of the period's first 10 points to take a 41-29 lead with under seven minutes left, but the visitors made enough shots to stay within 13 points headed into the fourth. Springfield maintained a double-digit lead for most of the final frame, building up its lead to as many as 17 with 2:40 left before Union closed with nine straight points.
 
The Dutchwomen had trouble scoring in the interior against the taller Springfield forwards, finishing at 39.0 percent shooting (23 for 59) for the afternoon and having 11 shots blocked. But the team did an excellent job defensively against the Pride, keeping the home team to its lowest shooting percentage of the season (22 for 66, 33.3 percent) and its second-lowest offensive output of 2021-22.
 
Union will return to Liberty League play for the remainder of the regular season. The Dutchwomen start a string of 15 straight conference clashes at home on Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Skidmore College.