SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Senior Jelena Perovic scored a game-high 19 points to become the 12th player in Union College women's basketball history to reach 1,000 career points as the Garnet Chargers avenged one of their two Liberty League losses with a 59-54 win over Skidmore College on Friday night at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Perovic entered the game needing 18 points to become Union's first quadruple-digit scorer since 2011, and reached the mark on a layup with 8:32 to go in the third period. The senior needed 90 games to score her 1,000 points, the sixth-fastest to do so in program history and the quickest since 1997.
 
In addition to Perovic, sophomore Olivia Cunningham had a big double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds while also matching senior Grace Ceseretti with a team-best four assists. Senior Kate Peek chipped in 11 points as well for Union (15-5, 11-2 Liberty League), who remained tied atop the conference with five games remaining.
 
After Skidmore (8-12, 6-7 Liberty League) was lights out to start the game during the teams' last meeting, the Union defense limited the Thoroughbreds to 22.9 percent (8 of 35) shooting over the first 20 minutes while the offense shot 48.3 percent (14 of 29) to take a 14-point edge at the half.
 
Union started the evening on a 10-3 run, with Perovic scoring six points to singlehandedly outscore the opponents. The advantage grew to as many as nine in the first period after a layup by sophomore Anna O'Keefe and a Peek three, and the home team led by six at 19-13 after 10 minutes. The Garnet Chargers doubled up the Thoroughbreds 16-8 in the second stanza, thanks to limiting Skidmore to 3-of-19 shooting (15.8 percent).
 
A 12-5 run got the visitors back within seven late in the third, but back-to-back baskets by Perovic and classmate Grace Ardito built the advantage back up to 11 (44-33) after three periods.
 
The visitors did not go away in the fourth, however, holding Union without a point for over five minutes as part of an 8-0 stretch that knotted the score at 50 with two minutes remaining. After scoreless possessions for both teams brought the time under a minute, Cunningham hit a huge jumper with 48 ticks remaining that put the home team back in front at 52-50. Union forced a miss on the next possession and Cunningham was fouled after grabbing the rebound, and she started a parade to the free-throw line that saw Union hit 7-of-8 shots down the stretch to seal the win.
 
The Garnet Chargers shot just 28.5 percent (8 of 28) from the field in the second half, but got to the line 12 times in the fourth frame to score enough points to finish off the victory. Union ended the day shooting 38.6 percent (22 of 57) from the field but also limited Skidmore to just 30.0 percent (21 of 70) shooting and only four second-chance points despite 13 offensive rebounds.
 
Union will finish off the home portion of the regular season tomorrow, when the team celebrates Senior Day before a 2 p.m. tipoff with William Smith College at Viniar Athletic Center.