Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women's basketball team closed the game with a 7-0 run to defeat the University of North Alabama 82-75 Saturday at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. The game was the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams. Union improved to 5-1 on the season, while North Alabama, who is receiving vote in the latest NCAA DII poll, dropped to 5-2 overall.
 
With the gamed tied at 75-75 and just over a minute left to play, Union's LaTesa McLaughlin drained back-to-back 3-pointers to put Union up 81-75. The first came with 59 seconds left, and the second came with 17 seconds left. A missed shot by North Alabama was between the two McLaughlin 3-pointers. Union added a free throw with four seconds left to set the final at 82-75.
 
North Alabama scored on their first possession of the game, and then added a free throw at the 17:14 minute mark to lead 3-0. Union finally got on the board with a free throw from Shelby Ashcraft at the 16:50 mark.
 
After the slow starts for both teams, North Alabama held as slim lead for the next six minutes. McLaughlin then sank her second 3-pointer of the game with 9:50 to play in the half to give Union their first lead at 18-15. That 3-pointer capped a run by Union where McLaughlin scored eight of Union's 10 points to go from a 13-8 deficit to the 18-15 lead.
 
The teams went back and forth for the rest of the half with North Alabama leading 36-34 at the break. The first half featured six ties and six lead changes.
 
In the second half, Union regained the lead at 42-41 and then slowly pushed their advantage up to seven points, 57-50 with 11:59 left to play. North Alabama cut the deficit to just one point a on three occasions over the next five minutes, but with 4:06 left, Union had matched their largest lead of seven points, 73-66.
 
North Alabama came back one final time with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 73-73. Then, Union's Amy Philamlee, who scored 21 of her game-high 24 points in the second half, put Union back on top with a driving layup with 1:21 left. North Alabama tied the game again at 75-75. Then McLaughlin, the senior guard from Millington, Tenn., answered with a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute to seal the win for Union.
 
Union was led by Philamlee's 24 points. Her only first half points came on a 3-pointer just over four minutes into the game. She scored 21 points, including 7-of-7 from the free throw line in the second half. McLaughlin added 22 points, including 4-of-7 shooting from long range. Both Philamlee and McLaughlin led Union with five assists each. Shelby Ashcraft added 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Amber Rechis scored four points in her season debut coming back off an injury. DeAnna Thompson scored six points with three rebounds in her first game as a Lady Bulldogs.
 
Union shot 54 percent from the field, 47 percent (7-15), and 81 percent (17-21) from the free throw line. The last time Union attempted just 15 three pointers in a game was twice last season, at North Alabama (15) and at Alabama Huntsville (15). The last time Union attempted less that 15 three pointers in a game was in 2010-11 when Union had three games with less that 15 attempts (7, 8, 13).  
 
North Alabama was led by Nichelle Fillmore with 18 points. Delisa Madry added 13 and Jennifer Towne scored 12. The Lions shot 42 percent from the field, 29 percent (6-21) from 3-point range, and 90 percent (17-19) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be the makeup game versus Bellarmine (Ky.) Monday night at 6 p.m. This game was originally scheduled for Dec. 7. Union then closes out their pre-Christmas schedule with a pair of road GSC games at Shorter (Wednesday) and at West Georgia (Friday).
 
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