Box Score MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The fifth-seeded University of Montevallo Falcons fell to the fourth-seeded Union University Bulldogs 70-65 in the Opening Round of the NCAA Women's Basketball National Tournament at the UNG Convocation Center in Dahlonega, Georgia.  This was the first trip to the NCAA postseason in the program's history.
 
Union and Montevallo traded three pointers to start the game with Kourtnie Smith (Birmingham, Alabama) scoring the first NCAA postseason points in UM history with a knockdown three pointer at the 8:24 mark in the first quarter.
 
The Falcons held an 8-5 lead at the first media timeout at the 4:43 mark. Sain led all scorers with five points.
 
Montevallo played outstanding defense all night, especially early, causing five turnovers in the first six minutes of the game. However, UM could not get into a good offensive flow the entire first quarter, shooting just 3-for-19 from the floor (15%) and 2-for-8 from behind the arc (25%)
 
The Bulldogs held a 17-14 lead after the first quarter, Kiya Sain (Jackson, Tennessee) finished the first quarter with seven points.
 
Back-to-back lay-ups by Savannah Lee (Jackson, Tennessee) and a steal and lay-up by Sain gave the Falcons back the lead 20-19 at the 6:25 mark in the second quarter.
 
Jordan Jones (Helena, Alabama) "and-one" layup and free throw gave the Falcons a 23-19 lead, a lead they would take into the 4:56 media timeout.
 
The Bulldogs answered out of the timeout with a 7-0 run to take the lead back from the Falcons 26-23.
 
Union took a 31-25 lead into the locker room at halftime. Montevallo shot just 7-for-38 (18%) from the floor and 2-for-12 (16%) from the 3-point line. Despite their cold hands offensively, UM played great defense, created 13 turnovers in the first half and gave themselves a chance to win the ballgame in the second half.  
 
"Our defense was big for us tonight," said head coach Gary Van Atta. "We forced turnovers and kept us in the game when our shots weren't falling."
 
At the start of the third quarter, a layup and three pointer by Lee and a layup by Jones drew the Falcons within two points, 34-32 at the 7:37 mark.
 
After trading baskets, Union's Emily Beard hit back-to-back three pointers to give the Bulldogs' their largest lead of the game 44-36 with 4:25 to play in the third quarter.
 
Montevallo answered Union's run when Shyan Flack (Somerville, Alabama) knocked down a twelve-foot jumper to pull the Falcons back with two, 44-42 at the 2:08 mark.
 
Union led 50-45 after three quarters of play. The Falcons halftime adjustments on offense paid off as they scored 20 points in the third quarter and were 8-for-21 (38%) from the floor.
 
 Jones knocked down a jump shot off a beautifully designed in-bound play to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 55-51 with 7:11 to play.
 
Montevallo's relentless defense and a Sain three-pointer at the 5:35 mark cut Union's lead to three, 59-56.
 
Union led 63-30 at the 1:59 mark and stretch their lead to five with one minute to play. But he Falcons would not go quietly as they got two free throws from Jones, a Bulldog turnover and a Sain three-pointer to make it a two-point ballgame, 67-65 with 35.7 seconds to play. But after two bonus free throws by Union, Montevallo could not convert offensively and fell to Union 70-65.
 
Sain was incredible for the Falcons. The senior led the Falcons with 22 points on 6-for-14 shooting, including three 3-pointers.
"This was a great experience for my teammates and myself," added Sain. "But this won't be our last experience."
 
"Kiya has been the heart and soul of our team for a long time," added Van Atta. "She is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached and gets the most out of herself and her teammates every time she gets on the court."
 
Jones also poured in 18 on 7-for-18 shooting and Lee added 12 points.
 
The Falcons finish their most historic NCAA season with a 14-7 record.
 
"We started this process five years ago with a program that had struggled at the Division II level for almost 25 years," added Van Atta. "We took a nice step last year, we took another great step this year. Tonight was for all that have been a part of this. But we aren't done."