Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women's basketball team posted an 80-45 win over Valdosta State (Ga.) University Saturday afternoon at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 9-3 on the season and remained in second place in the Gulf South Conference with a 4-2 league record. Valdosta State dropped to 8-4 overall and 3-3 in league play.
                     
Union avoided a 3-game losing streak that would have been the first since the 2005-06 season.
 
Union exploded from long range in the game, making 17-of-29 three pointers for 59 percent. Union was 11-of-17 from long range (65%) in the second half. Seven different players made a 3-pointer in the game for Union.
 
Leading the way was junior guard Amber Rechis with a career-high 30 points, including 8-of-9 3-pointers. Her .888 3-point percentage in this game set a new school record. She broke the old record held by Merideth Richardson Jacobs' who posted a .875 percentage (7-8).
 
Union scored 51 of their 80 points on their 17 3-pointers. Seventeen points came from the free throw line, while just 12 points came from 2-pointers.
 
Union scored first in the game, with a pair from free throws from Rechis. Valdosta State answered with a 3-pointer from Jordan Waugh. After a layup from Union's Shelby Ashcraft, Valdosta State took their final lead of the game at 5-4.
 
Union held a 14-11 lead at the 11:23 mark of the first half. Union then posted an 13-0 run, featuring two 3-pointers from Rechis and one from Astrid Huttemann. Union led by as many as 18 points (32-14) in the first half, before taking the 36-22 halftime lead.
 
Union opened the second half with four straight 3-pointers, one from Kelsey Risner and three from Rechis, to push their lead to 26 points (48-22) following that 12-0 run. Union led by as many as 36 points twice in the second half and took the final, 80-45.
 
Rechis' 30 points led the way for Union, topping her previous career-high of 26 points last season. Risner added 11 points including 3-of-6 shooting from long range. Huttemann scored 10 points. Union shot 41 percent from the field, 59 percent (17-29) from 3-point range, and 77 percent (17-22) from the free throw line.
 
Valdosta State produced just one player in double figures, April Thomas with 17 points on 3-of-6 shooting from long range. The Blazers shot 35 percent from the field, 22 percent (4-19) from 3-point range, and 47 percent (7-15) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be a road game at Christian Brothers Thursday, January 16 at 5:00 p.m.
 
#UNION#