GENEVA, N.Y. – Four players scored in double figures and the Union College women's basketball team limited William Smith College to 21.2 percent shooting as the Garnet Chargers got back in the win column with a decisive 77-45 victory over the Herons in Liberty League action on Friday night at Bristol Gym.
 
Union (12-4, 8-1 Liberty League) got another big game from sophomore Olivia Cunningham, who led all players with 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 14 rebounds in just 23 minutes of action. Senior Kate Peek and junior Morgan Schultz reached double figures as well with 12 points apiece, while first-year Ryley Tate-Padian chipped in 10 points and senior Jelena Perovic just missed a double-double with nine points and nine boards.
 
Cunningham had a huge opening 20 minutes for Union, posting a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds with three assists and a steal in just 15 minutes of work. Peek led all scorers with all 12 of her points at the break, while Tate-Padian chipped in all of her 10 points in just nine first-half minutes.
 
After William Smith (3-13, 1-8 Liberty League) scored the first four points of the game, Union came back with 12 in a row from Cunningham and Perovic to regain a lead it would never relinquish. Cunningham had eight points and Perovic added four during the 12-0 run. Tate-Padian ended the period with a three-pointer to put the visitors up 15-8 after 10 minutes, a frame in which Union shot just 35.0 percent (7 of 20) but limited the Herons to 3-of-15 shooting at the other end.
 
The visitors shot the ball very well in the middle two frames, hitting 19-of-33 shots (57.5 percent) to help put the game away early. Union started the second stanza on an 8-0 run – thanks to six points from Peek – to open up a 15-point edge with 7:59 left. The advantage ballooned to 21 points by the end of the frame after a Tate-Padian layup in the final seconds made the score 42-21 at the half. A 15-2 run in the third period bumped the lead up to a game-high 35 points after a jumper by junior Casey Weeren put Union up 68-33 with 2:02 on the clock.
 
Union took its foot off the gas offensively in the fourth frame, but still played strong defense and limited William Smith to just 2-of-20 shooting from the field. Junior Ally Burke led the team with three points in the final period, followed by two each from Perovic, Schultz and first-year Allie Grove.
 
The visitors ended the night shooting 48.4 percent (30 of 62) from the field and a strong 80.0 percent (12 of 15) from the free-throw line, while limiting the Herons to 14-of-66 shooting. Union also ended the game with a dominant 44-18 edge in paint scoring as well as a 51-38 advantage on the glass.
 
The Garnet Chargers will return to action on Tuesday, making the quick trip north to Saratoga Springs to take on Skidmore College at 5:30 p.m.