Box Score MONTEVALLO, Ala. – For the first time this season, Montevallo dropped back-to-back games following a 79-73 loss to No. 8 Union.
 
Montevallo opened the game with a two-point lead before the tip off took place with a pair of free throws from Marisa Snodgrass due to a Union technical foul. Sophomore Guard Isabel Grimes gave the Falcons an early 5-0 lead with her first bucket of the day. Savannah Cook's first points of the day ended a 6-1 Union run and regain Montevallo's lead at 8-6. A quick 6-0 run from Union left the Falcons in a 19-12 whole before a quick four points from Freshman Ramie Reid sparked a Falcon run to close the gap and head into the second quarter trailing 21-19.
 
The Falcons were plagued by turnovers to start the second with Union stretching its lead out to 11 points before Montevallo found its first bucket. A Lia Edwards lay in on the break ended a scoreless 2:23 for Montevallo. Grimes went on a one-woman run to trim the Bulldog lead to 32-26 at the second quarter media. Edwards second bucket of the quarter cut the lead down to just four points before a UM shooting slump let Union move to a 42-31 lead. Cali Smallwood's first field goal of the day pulled the Falcons within nine heading into the locker room.
 
The Falcons came out of the half on fire from range with a 5-10 mark from behind the arc. Cook began the quarter with a three before five quick points from Cali Smallwood cut the Union lead down to 48-42 with seven minutes to play. With the Falcons shooting 3-for-6 from deep to start, Smallwood's eight points in the third trim the Bulldogs' advantage to four at the media timeout. A 7-0 Montevallo run tied the game for the first time since 4:32 to go in the first before a Grimes triple gave the Falcons a 56-53 lead. Cook extended Montevallo's advantage to five before the quarter ended with a 60-56 Falcon lead.
 
Following a scoreless 2:37 from Montevallo, Union regained control, 65-64, with 6:02 to play. Union extended its lead to eight before a Grimes drive ended a scoreless stretch for the Falcons. A quick four points from Grimes brought Montevallo back within seven with 55 seconds to go but late free throws from Union secured its victory.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 73 | Union 79
Records: Montevallo 7-4 (5-3 GSC) | Union 12-1 (6-1 GSC)
Location: Student Activity Center | Montevallo, Ala.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1^st | The first ten minutes proved to be a game of runs with both sides opening leads of five or more points. With a 5-0 run to end the quarter, Montevallo trailed 21-19 heading into the second.
2^nd | Montevallo continued its hot shooting in the second with a 50-percent mark from the field while Union shot 56.3 percent in the second. Montevallo's nine turnovers in the quarter left the door open for Union to extend its lead to as many as 11 with the Falcons trailing 43-34 at the half.
3^rd | The Falcon attack came out of the half on a shooting tear with a 5-for-10 mark from deep and a 50 percent mark overall. Montevallo forced eight Union turnovers to regain control for the first time in nearly three quarters with an Isabel Grimes three.
4^th | Montevallo struggled to find points in the fourth quarter, shooting just 25 percent from the floor and 11 percent from range. Late free throws from Union handed Montevallo its second conference loss of the season.
 
GAME NOTES

• Isabel Grimes led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-11 from the stripe while dishing out three assists and pulling down two boards.
• Cali Smallwood recorded another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes of action.
• Montevallo turned the ball over 23 times while forcing 18 giveaways from the Bulldogs.
• For the first time this season, Montevallo dropped back-to-back contests.

 
UP NEXT: Montevallo host Christian Brothers at 5 p.m. on Jan. 2 to kick off 2024.