Barbourville, Ky. - Playing on the road especially in the post season is always tough, Union College's All-American Brooke Smith made it very clear on Saturday afternoon why that is so. Smith netted the game's first seven points and 31 points for the day to lead Union College over UVa-Wise, 73-62, in the Appalachian Athletic Conference semifinals.

The Highland Cavaliers (16-13) rallied early to cut the margin to 7-5 on a three-point play by Amber Carter and a bucket from Meghan Rutherford. The Lady Bulldogs (22-9) could not pull away as they led by only 26-22 with 2:55 in the opening half before leading by 10 points, 34-24, at half. Union came out and score the opening 10 points of the second stanza and coasted home to the 73-62 final.

The UVa-Wise lone senior Brittany Maxwell wrapped up her final contest by scoring the team's final five points and hit her final shot to give her a team-high 12 points. The Whitewood, Va. native finished her four-year career with 909 points and 177 three-pointers made.

Adrienne Womack added 12 points on five of 11 tries with Carter added 11 tallies. Kristin Mullins pulled in 12 rebounds.

Smith connected on 13 of 22 attempts from the floor for her 31 points for Union. Kara Pile added 15 points and Ashley Lunsford grabbed 13 boards.

Under first year head coach Jason Montgomery, UVa-Wise recorded its first winning season since going 24-10 four years ago in the 2005-06 campaign.