BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - No. 23 Union College did just enough to get by as the Lady Bulldogs survived a scare in defeating visiting Bluefield (Va.) College 77-70 Wednesday in Appalachian Athletic Conference action.

Although owning a double-digit lead at times, Union could never quite put the Lady Rams away. Bluefield only led during the game's first couple minutes but kept within striking distance throughout.

In the first half, Carley Blankenship (Lexington, Ky.) kept the Lady Bulldog offense churing as she scored 12 of 17 points and five of her eight assists during the opening period. Brooke Smith (Pineville, Ky.) and Susanna Todd (Eubank, Ky.) took the reins in the second half as they combined for 27 of Union's 36 second-half points.

Tied at 5-5, Union embarked on a 12-0 run to open up a 17-5 cushion with 14:20 remaining. Blankenship started the rally with a bucket and fueled it with three assists.

After a Blankenship 3-pointer, the Lady Bulldogs owned a 29-16 advantage at the 8:54 mark. But Bluefield scrapped back.

A 12-4 Lady Ram surge cut the deficit to 33-28 with 4:52 on the clock. Union appeared to have regained control as an Allyson Campassi (Frankfort, Ky.) 3-pointer gave it a 39-31 lead with 2:35 remaining. However, the Lady Rams closed the half on a 9-2 run as Heather Ferrell accounted for the final seven points of the half to make it 41-40 at the break.

Todd drained a 3-pointer with 11:18 left in the game to put Union up 60-51, but Bluefield reeled off seven straight points to make it a 60-58 contest at the 9:15 mark. The Lady Bulldogs regrouped, and with Smith scoring seven consecutive points, Union used a 9-0 run in building a 69-58 margin with 6:28 remaining.

Refusing to give up, Bluefield cut the deficit to 74-70 with 1:13 on the clock. Yet, Union made 3-of-4 free throws in the closing moments to seal the seven-point decision.

Smith finished the game with her second double-double of the season with 24 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. Todd hit 4-of-6 from 3-point range in netting 17 points, while Blankenship helped out with 17 points and eight assists.

The Lady Rams featured a balanced scoring attack as 13 players scored with five netting at least eight. Ferrell was the lone Lady Ram to crack double digits as she came off the bench to post 13 points.

Union returns to action Saturday when Tennessee Wesleyan College comes to Barbourville for a conference tilt at 4 p.m.

Lady Bulldog Notes

• Susanna Todd moved into eighth place on the all-time scoring list as she now has 1,230 career points, surpassing Leslie Wagner who had 1,228 career points.
• Todd also extended her career mark for 3-pointers made as she now has hit 240 in her career.
• With her 14 rebounds, Brooke Smith is four away from having 600 for her career.
• Union has now won 19 in a row at Robsion Arena.
• Since joining the AAC in 2002-03, Union owns a 13-1 record versus Bluefield.