The Bard College women's basketball team got off to a hot start against the Union Garnet Chargers on Friday evening, but fell 50-81, at Viniar Athletic Center.

Bard got double-digits from Morgan Kottka, who had 14 points, two triples, two rebounds, two assists, and a block. Ava Gregory performed well, with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting and a rebound. Aislynn Dixon had eight points on five field goal attempts, three rebounds and two steals. 

Erin Tobes contributed eight points, a team-high seven rebounds, a team-high three assists, and two steals in 18 minutes. Shirley Dong had seven points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists. Lexi Miller tied Tobes for the team-high in rebounds, with seven, adding a team-high three steals, a block, an assist, and two points. Jessica Martin tallied two points, three rebounds, and a steal.

The Raptors hit four threes in the first quarter, and they limited the Garnet Chargers to 5-of-14 shooting from the field. Dixon, Gregory, and Kottka each made a three in the first five minutes of the quarter, leading to a 9-6 advantage. Union tied it up at 11-11 with 4:46 to play, but then Bard prevented a field goal the rest of the frame and led 18-14 after one.

The Garnet Chargers started the second quarter with 11 straight to take a 25-18 lead. Four straight points by the Raptors got them to within three, at 25-22. Then, the threes started to fall for Union, as a 13-0 run into the half allowed the Garnet Chargers to feel comfortable with a 16-point margin. 

The first 4:08 of the second half went in favor of Union, 12-4. Bard chipped away with free throws, getting to within 21 at 33-54, but a 9-1 response prevented the threat. After a pair of layups by the Garnet Chargers made it 69-37 in the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Raptors played on even terms with Union. Dong had five in the fourth to lead the Raptors, who won the turnover battle in the frame, forcing seven and committing three. 

The Raptors travel to Ithaca tomorrow at 2 p.m.