UTICA, N.Y. – The Union College women's basketball team shot 75.0 percent in the first period to take command early and never allowed Utica University back into the game as the Garnet Chargers cruised to a 91-61 victory in non-conference action on Tuesday evening at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium's Miga Court.
 
The 91 points scored by the Garnet Chargers are the third-most in a game in program history and mark the most since the team went for a program-record 95 in a 41-point victory over SUNYIT on December 4, 2008.
 
Junior Grace Ceseretti had a huge game for Union (2-1), hitting 8-of-10 shots from the field on the way to a career-high 26 points to go with six boards, two assists and two steals. The transfer connected on 7-of-9 attempts from long range, matching the program record of seven three-pointers set by Maria Tobin '09 on December 6, 2007. Her 26 points are the most by a Union player since Nicole Conley '19 went for 27 against Utica on December 30, 2018.
 
Junior Grace Ardito and sophomore Casey Weeren both reached double-figures as well with 14 and 10 points, respectively, as 11 different players recorded a basket on the night. Senior Emma Riley filled up the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds and a career-high nine assists, the most in a game for Union since 2018. Senior Jenna Forman chipped in nine points and five caroms, while first-year Olivia Cunningham grabbed seven boards off the bench as well.
 
Union made 12 of its 16 shots in the opening 10 minutes to take control of the game early, leading 28-15 after one period. Ardito had nine points and Ceseretti chipped in eight with three assists in the opening period to lead a red-hot Union attack.
 
The visitors jumped out to a 13-4 lead less than four minutes into the contest, hitting six of their first seven shots from the field. Ceseretti and Forman both hit their first two attempts from the floor, and Ceseretti added two assists to play a role in four of the team's first six buckets. The lead grew to as many as 16 after an Ardito jumper made the score 28-12 before Utica ended the frame with three points.
 
While the 75 percent shooting did not continue in the second stanza, Union still shot 53.8 percent (7 of 13) and outscored the Pioneers 22-10 to take a 25-point lead into the locker rooms. After Utica (0-1) got within 12 at 35-23, Union scored 15 of the period's final 17 points to open up a 50-25 lead, finished off by a three-point play by sophomore Morgan Schultz. Ceseretti scored eight points in the period to give her 16 points in the opening 20 minutes.

The visitors bumped the advantage into the thirties for the first time after a Forman three-point play with 4:26 to go in the third put the Garnet Chargers up 64-34 and the edge reached 34 points soon after on a three from sophomore Davita Honig. The lead eventually grew as high as 37 on the opening possession of the fourth period after a Weeren three-point play made the score 77-41, and Union put it in cruise control the rest of the way.
 
Despite cooling off considerably in the second half, Union still shot 51.6 percent (33 of 64) from the field and was even better from long range, hitting 13-of-24 shots (54.2 percent) from beyond the arc. The Garnet Chargers also hit 12-of-14 free throws (85.7 percent) as part of an all-around excellent offensive effort.
 
After taking some time off for finals, Union will return to action on Saturday, November 23 at Middlebury College beginning at 3 p.m.