SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's basketball team struggled offensively for most of the afternoon and a late-game run came up a few buckets short as the Dutchwomen dropped a 53-44 contest to William Smith College in Liberty League play on Saturday afternoon at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Junior Maura Conan had a team-leading nine points and both senior Olivia Pachla and sophomore Claudia Porto chipped in eight apiece for Union (4-10, 2-6 Liberty League), but the home team struggled mightily on the offensive end for much of the contest.
 
Brooke Jarvis had a massive game for William Smith (5-9, 3-4 Liberty League) with 19 points and 19 rebounds, followed by Lauren DeVaney with 10 points and eight boards.
 
After a first quarter in which neither team led by more than four points, the game changed drastically late in the second stanza. After Porto hit a layup with 3:24 remaining, Union went completely ice cold from the field, missing their final seven field goals of the period and their first 14 attempts of the third quarter, allowing William Smith to take a 36-21 lead.
 
Junior Kennedy Clark hit the team's only field goal of the frame with 1:52 remaining to lower the deficit to 12, but the visitors quickly built the lead back up to 19 after a Molly Walsh three made the score 43-24 with 7:47 remaining in the fourth.
 
Union did go away quietly, however, as the home team finally started to hit some shots while continuing to play solidly on the defensive end. A 9-0 run capped by a jumper from junior Grace Enselek lowered the deficit to 10 (43-33) with 4:39 on the clock, and back-to-back threes from Conan made it a 49-41 game with 2:01 remaining. After an offensive foul, junior Maddy Mandalinci sunk a clutch three and suddenly it was a five-point game with 1:44 left.
 
Enselek had a big block on the next possession to give Union a chance to get within a possession, but the home team missed their next five shots from the field and William Smith was able to ice the game from the charity stripe.
 
Union once again did a good job taking care of the basketball with only 10 turnovers and crashed the glass to the tune of 20 offensive rebounds, resulting in 75 looks at the basket. Unfortunately, the team could not overcome 21.3 percent shooting (16 of 75) from the field, including a disastrous 2-of-35 effort in the second and third quarters. William Smith finished the game shooting 35.2 percent (19 of 54) from the field.
 
Union will look for a return to the win column on Friday with a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Bard College at Viniar Athletic Center.