Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women's basketball suffered their first Gulf South Conference loss of the season in a 68-66 defeat to Lee University. Union dropped to 8-2 on the season and 3-1 in the GSC. Lee improved to 7-4 overall and 3-1 in league play.
                   
Union's Amber Rechis drained a pair of free throws with 1:11 left in the game to give Union a 66-65 lead. After Union's LaTesa McLaughlin stole the ball, Union had possession and call a timeout with 40 seconds left. The Lady Bulldogs ran the play and got a good look at the basket to extend their lead, but the shot rolled off the rim. Lee got the rebound and called a timeout of their own with 20 seconds left.
 
Jenna Adams got the call for Lee but missed the shot. However Lee's Karley Miller grabbed the offensive board but missed also. Adams got a second straight offensive board for Lee and made the put back and was fouled with three seconds left. She completed the 3-point play, putting Lee up 68-66. Union failed to get a shot off in the final seconds.
 
It was just the third time in the 24 meetings for Lee to defeat Union. Both Union and Lee were once members of the TranSouth Conference in the NAIA, before Lee moved to the Southern States conference. Now both teams are in the process of moving to NCAA DII and are reunited in the Gulf South Conference. Union is in the third and final year of the membership process, while Lee is in year two.
 
Union opened the game with a pair of 3-pointers, one from Amy Philamlee and one from Astrid Huttemann to lead 6-0. Union led by as many as seven points early, 13-7, before Lee slowly cut into the deficit. With 8:42 left in the first half, Lee tied the game 23-23. Lee led by as many as three points in the first half. However, it was Union with a 3-pointer from Amber Rechis that put Union up 38-37 at the half.
 
In the second half, Union again jumped out by seven points, 48-41. However, Lee then posted an 18-3 run to go from seven down to their largest lead of eight points, 58-51, with 9:30 left. Union battled back and took a 64-63 lead with 2:36 left, but it was short lived as Lee answered to lead 65-64 with 2:13 left.
 
Union shot well from 3-point range, making 13-of-24 (54%) for the game, including 54 percent in both the first half and second half. Both teams committed just 11 turnovers each, but the difference came as Lee outrebounded Union 37-26, including 15-9 offensively. The second half was the difference as Lee topped Union on the glass 22-13 in the second half, including 9-4 offensively. It was one offensive rebound too many as Union could not hold on for the win.
 
Union was led by Huttemann with 18 points, including 6-of-13 from long range. Shelby Ashcraft added 15 points, while McLaughlin scored 13 points. Union shot 42 percent from the field, 54 percent (13-24) from long range, and 69 percent (11-16) from the free throw line.
 
Lee was led by Adams with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Hollie German added 16 points and Kayla Beavers scored 14 points. Beaver was 4-of-4 from 3-point range. The Flames shot 42 percent from the field, 29 percent (7-24) from 3-point range, and 88 percent (15-17) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be the second of three straight home conference games when West Florida comes to Jackson, Thursday, January 9 for a 6 p.m. game.
 
#UNION#