LIVINGSTON – Union held off a second-half West Alabama rally to score a 74-69 Gulf South Conference women’s basketball victory over the Tigers Thursday at Pruitt Hall.

The win improves Union to 11-5, 6-2 in the GSC. West Alabama lost its third straight, dropping to 8-8 and 3-5.

In a game where the lead changed hands 15 times, the Lady Bulldogs led 39-29 at the half, taking advantage of defensive lapses that, according to Tigers head coach Craig Roden, led to 18 Union points.

“There were two areas of emphasis for us tonight, transition defense and guarding the basketball,” Roden said. “In the first half we gave up three three-pointers in transition and four buckets with an and-one by not guarding the basketball, all allowed on our points of emphasis.”

UWA took the lead for the first time in second half at 62-61 when Jamie Gunter, who finished with a career-high 22 points, made a pair of free throws with 5:02 left to play. With the score tied at 66 Union scored the next five points to take a 71-66 advantage with 1:15 left.

Gunter’s three cut the Lady Bulldog lead to 71-69 with 57.6 seconds to play. It was the last points of the evening for West Alabama.

“We are not in sync right now. We are playing hard and battling, but just not in sync,” Roden said. “Our repetitions in practice have been sporadic due to some injuries. It’s an old cliché, but it’s still true that you play the way you practice.”

Amy Philamlee scored 20 points to led Union, followed by Christina Conley with 18 and LaTesa McLaughlin with 10. Conley also grabbed seven rebounds before fouling out with 2:44 left in the game.

Brittany Weathers followed Gunter with 15 points, while Nikkia Jordan and Tamya Thompson added 10 each. Gunter grabbed seven rebounds to lead UWA, who outrebounded Union 38-32.

The Tigers travel to North Alabama Saturday. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Union returns home to host West Georgia.