When the Vikings took the floor, Friday on Senior Night in Bob Ward Gymnasium, against the 3A state powerhouse and Cape Fear Valley Conference champions Western Harnett Lady Eagles, (24-0, 14-0) it looked early on like Union Pines -- not Western Harnett -- was the third-ranked team in the state.

The Vikes came out firing on all cylinders to take a 10-0 lead with 6:10 left in the opening quarter, behind two threes from senior Reyanna Torrence and another from junior Alishia Mosley. However it did not take long for Western to assert their dominance in the game. The The Lady Eagles finished the first quarter on a 19-8 run and never looked back, eventually winning 65-45 in the CFV conference regular season finale for both teams.

Western went on to outscore Union Pines 22-4 in the second quarter, as it dominated the glass on both sides of the court and stifled the Vikings with full-court pressure defense.

Junior Ariel Bursey led the Lady Eagles with 20 points to go along with eight rebounds, six steals and five assists. Tierra Coleman joined her in double figures scoring 15 of her 17 points in the first half to finish with a double-double. Western's Courtney Mull owned the lane all night as she pulled down 17 rebounds and scored 13 points.

Mosley and McLean both led Union Pines with 12 points apiece. Senior Lindsey Wilborn finished the night with 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Vikings.

Vike seniors Wilborn, Torrence, Catherine Daley, Morgan Carlyle and Whitney Walden were honored in a pre-game ceremony. Walden, who missed the entire season with a leg injury, got the chance to start as she slung her crutch to the home side line and stood balanced on the court for ten seconds before a jump ball enable her to leave the floor to a standing ovation.

The Viking finished the CFV season on a two-game skid with a record of 10-4. At 17-7 overall Union Pines is the two seed in the CFV Conference Tournament. Monday the Vikes host Harnett Central in the first round of the Tournament at 7 p.m. in Cameron. Check out the web Monday for a full preview.