MONTREAT, N.C. - Junior Brooke Smith netted a season-best 43 points as Union College rallied for a 79-76 Appalachian Athletic Conference victory at Montreat (N.C.) College Wednesday. The victory keeps the Lady Bulldogs in the running for the AAC regular-season championship.

Smith, the Pineville, Ky. native went 16-for-21 from the field with 11 free throws en route to the 43 points. The 16 made baskets are also a season best.

After trailing a majority of the opening 30 minutes, Union used two Kara Pile (Fairdale, Ky.) free throws to take a 59-58 lead with 8:40 left in the game.

Smith pushed the lead to three with a basket after a pass from Pile on Union's next possession. A minute later Pile drained a 3-pointer and Union held control the rest of the contest.

Montreat made a late push, but it would not be enough.

Smith also grabbed 10 rebounds to give her 701 for her career. She is one of three players in program history with 700 or more career rebounds.

Her 43 points are the second most scored in her career. She scored 54 to set the Union record last season against Berea (Ky.) College.

Union trailed 45-33 at halftime. The 45 points from Montreat are the most allowed by Union in the opening half this season.

The Lady Bulldogs moved to 20-9 overall and 12-5 in the conference. The 20-win season is the second straight for Union and head coach Tim Curry. Union has a total of five 20-win seasons over the 30 seasons of the program's history. Curry has led Union to four of them and this is the first time it has happened in back-to-back seasons.

The win kept Union in a three-way tie atop the AAC standings with Milligan (Tenn.) College and King (Tenn.) College. Union and King play in Barbourville Saturday at 4 p.m. while Milligan hosts Tennessee Wesleyan College.

Pile finished the game with 10 points.

Ashley Lunsford (Orlando, Ky.) moved into seventh on Union's All-Time Rebounding list thanks to two in the contest. She now has 457 in her career.

Montreat was led by Whitney Mace and her 17 points. Chazaree Wright posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Whitney Boone finished with 14 points.

The game was the first time all season Union won when an opponent shot better than 50 percent from the field. Union has seen two other teams shoot better than 50 percent this season. Montreat was 29-for-54 in the contest.

The Lady Bulldogs went 28-for-59 in the game with seven 3-pointers.

Union owned the advantage at the free-throw line by going 16-for-21 (76.2 percent). On the other side, Montreat was 11-for-17 (64.7 percent).

Lady Bulldog Notes

• Smith now has 625 points this season which currently ranks as the third most points by a Lady Bulldog in a season.
• Union improved to 8-5 when trailing at halftime.
• Wednesday games have been to Union's liking as the Lady Bulldogs have a 10-1 record in such games.
• Smith's previous season best was 37 points against AAC foe Bryan (Tenn.) College on Jan. 28.