SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The Union College women's basketball team outscored Clarkson University by 30 points after halftime to blow open the game and cruise to a 91-45 victory in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Sophomore Olivia Cunningham had a big game for Union (5-1, 2-0 Liberty League), leading all players with her 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Senior Grace Ceseretti chipped in 14 points while first-year Ryley Tate-Padian and senior Grace Ardito also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
The Garnet Chargers shot well from all areas on Saturday, hitting at a 46.3 percent (31 of 67) clip from the field, a stellar 48.1 percent (13 of 27) from long range, and a nearly perfect 16-of-17 from the charity stripe. Union also excelled defensively, forcing 27 Clarkson turnovers and converting them into 25 points at the other end while posting a 41-28 edge on the glass.
 
The 91 points match the total put up last season at Utica University for the third-most in a game in program history and also match the most since the team went for a program-record 95 in a win over SUNYIT on December 4, 2008.
 
Union came out of the gates strong, forcing turnovers on six of Clarkson's first seven possessions on the way to an 8-0 start. Cunningham and senior Jelena Perovic scored two baskets each as part of the early run, as the Garnet Chargers forced nine turnovers overall in the first frame.
 
The Garnet Chargers hit 5-of-6 shots from long range in the second stanza, outsourcing Clarkson by a 23-13 margin to take a 39-23 lead into the break. Ceseretti led the way with a trio of three-pointers and a team-best nine points in the period, which saw the lead balloon all the way to 18 after a three by senior Grace Ardito in the final minute.
 
Union kept up the hot shooting in the second half, hitting 17 of 33 shots from the field over the final 20 minutes to continue expanding its advantage.
 
The home team matched its largest quarter output of the season by putting up 29 points in a dominant third stanza, outscoring Clarkson 29-11. Union started off with 11 straight points to build up a 27-point lead (50-23) with 5:41 left, and the advantage cracked 30 for the first time after a pair of Ardito freebies over a minute later. First-year Aiden Gill scored to cap an 11-2 run later in the frame, which helped put the Garnet Chargers up 68-34 after 30 minutes.
 
Seven different players had baskets for Union in the fourth period, as Union eased its way home to a win. The lead never got lower than 32 in the frame, which closed with an 15-1 Union run. First-year Allie Grove hit a pair of threes during the run for her first collegiate points, while junior Casey Weeren finished off a productive nine minutes off the bench with five of her eight points.
 
Union will be back in action next Saturday with a non-conference matchup at Hamilton College beginning at 3 p.m. in Clinton.