GENEVA, N.Y. – The Union College women's basketball team used another strong defensive effort and a high-scoring third period to start Liberty League play with a 59-39 victory over William Smith College on Friday evening at Bristol Gymnasium.
 
Junior Jelena Perovic led three Garnet Chargers in double figures with a game-high 15 points and also grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds and recorded a career-high four blocks. First-year Olivia Cunningham hit 6-of-8 shots on the way to a 12-point night, while senior Jenna Forman chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks for Union (4-3, 1-0 Liberty League).
 
The Union defense was the story of the night, holding William Smith (0-5, 0-1 Liberty League) to 19.7 percent shooting (13 of 66) from the field and a 17.9 percent (5 of 28) effort from beyond the arc. The Garnet Chargers overcame a rough start to finish the night at 37.3 percent (25 of 67) from the field.
 
The first period was not an offensive showcase for either side, with the teams combining to shoot 5-of-33 from the field. The visitors went the first five minutes without a basket until senior Sophia Poplyk finally opened the scoring for Union with 4:58 to go in the first; however, the defense was up to the task, limiting the Herons to 1-of-15 shooting at the other end to start the game. After an early layup by the home team, Union held them off the scoreboard for nearly eight minutes and built up a 7-2 lead before the Herons scored four straight to close the frame.
 
Union did not allow a basket for over 6:30 to start the second period as well, with Forman scoring five points as part of a 9-0 run that gave Union a 16-6 lead. Despite the Herons outscoring the Garnet Chargers 9-4 the rest of the way, Union still went into the half with a 20-15 advantage.
 
The offenses came to life in the third period, with the visitors outscoring the home team 21-15 to take a 41-30 lead into the final frame. Union shot 60.0 percent (9 of 15) from the field in the period and started on a 10-0 run that built up a 30-15 advantage after a Perovic layup with 7:12 on the clock. The lead grew to as many as 17 after back-to-back buckets from senior Emma Riley and junior Grace Ardito with 3:07 left, and a Forman three in the final 30 seconds assured the Garnet Chargers of a double-digit lead headed into the fourth.
 
Union outscored William Smith 16-9 in the final period to finish off the victory. The lead grew to as many as 22 points following the team's final field goal of the evening, a three from sophomore Davita Honig with 2:16 remaining that put the visitors up 58-36.
 
Union will return to action tomorrow with a 2 p.m. matchup against Rochester Institute of Technology.