Box Score
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women's basketball posted an 82-64 win over the University of West Alabama Thursday night on senior night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 18-7 on the season and maintain their league best 13-4 record in the Gulf South Conference with one game left to play. West Alabama dropped to 12-13 on the season and 7-10 in league play.
Union hit a season-high 17 3-pointers in the game, shooting 46 percent (17-37) from long range. Union made just seven two pointers in the game.
Of the 17 3-pointers, the last one of the night for Union might not have been the most important basket, but it gained the largest ovation from fans and teammates. Senior guard
Rebecca Sharpe, who is injured and has not played since Feb. 9, entered the game with 1:24 left to play. She could not move very well, but was able to spot up for a 3-pointer in the corner, and she drained it. Even more fitting, the assist came from Union's only other senior
Paige Parker.
Union opened the game with four straight 3-pointers started by
LaTesa McLaughlin with the game's first points just 13 seconds into the game. Union was 4-for-8 from 3-point range during that first three minutes of play.
West Alabama cut the deficit down to seven points a couple of times in the first half, but Union maintained a double-digit lead for most of the way. Union held a 16 point lead, 40-24, with 1:45 left in the half, before taking a 40-30 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, West Alabama outscored Union 11-9 over the first five minutes to get as close as eight points, 49-41. However, Union took over with a 19-4 run over the next four minutes. The Lady Bulldogs hit four 3-pointers, including three 3-pointers from
Kelsey Risner during that stretch. Risner finished with seven 3-pointers in the game. Union held a game-high 22 point lead three different times in the second half before cruising to 82-64 win.
Union was led by Risner's career-high 24 points, including 7-of-14 shooting from behind the arc. The freshman's previous best was 23 points at West Florida. She is coming off back-to-back 20-point games as she scored 21 last Saturday versus Shorter.
Amy Philamlee continued her great play as of late with 18 points including four 3-pointers. She is averaging 19 points per game over her last four games.
LaTesa McLaughlin scored 15 points and a game-high eight assists. All 15 of McLaughlin's points came in the first half. Union shot 43 percent from the field, 46 percent (17-37) from long range, and 77 percent (17-22) from the free throw line.
West Alabama was led by Jordan Nikkia with 19 points. Tamya Thompson and Jamie Gunter added 12 points each. The Tigers shot 47 percent from the field, 20 percent (2-10) from long range, and 83 percent (10-12) from the free throw line.
Up next for Union will be the final regular season game of the year as Union travels to West Georgia Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. central time.
#UNION#
