FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Union University women's basketball team opened the Nova Southeastern University Thanksgiving Classic with a 70-61 win over Barry (Fla.) University. Union improved to 3-0 on the season, while Barry dropped to 3-2.
This sets up a match-up for Union versus the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA DII, the host, Nova Southeastern Saturday at 1:00 p.m. central time. The game can be heard on WWGM 93.1 FM or online at
www.uuathletics.com/live.
Kelsey Risner posted her third double-double in three games this season, while
Amy Philamlee hit 20-plus points for the second straight game to lead the Lady Bulldogs.
DeAnna Thompson continued her solid play with a second straight double-double.
Union scored first on a layup from Thompson for two of her 12 first half points. Union led by nine points twice in the first half, once after a 3-pointer form Risner (16-9), and again after a 3-pointer from
Emily Sissom (23-14, 7:11 left).
Barry rallied back and with 48 seconds left in the first half took their first lead of the game 30-29. Union regained the lead with a pair of free throws by Philamlee, but a 3-pointer from Barry's Ashley Lutz put the Buccaneers up 33-31 at the break.
Barry continued that momentum and scored five straight points to start the second half to lead 37-31. The Buccaneers led by as many as seven points, 42-35 with 14:52 left in the game.
Union responded with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take control of the game again, 47-42. Union extended their lead to as many as 13 points in the game, 66-53, before taking the 70-61 final.
Philamlee was key in the Union comeback with 17 of her game-high 23 points coming in the second half. Thompson finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds and was 8-of-10 from the field. Risner's third double-double of the season included 15 points and 15 rebounds. Union shot 44 percent from the field, 33 percent (7-21) from long range, and 75 percent (15-20) from the free throw line.
Union outrebounded Barry 45-24, but lost the turnover battle, 19-12. Barry also dominated the bench scoring, 18-3, with a
Chelsea Bodiford 3-pointer serving as Union's only points off the bench.
Barry was led by Nyjah Porcher with 13 points. Lutz added 11 and Antonia Neibler scored 10 points. The Buccaneers shot 42 percent from the field, 33 percent (7-21) from 3-point range, and 57 percent (4-7) from the free throw line.
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