Box Score JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women's basketball team earned a 68-65 over Lee University Saturday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium to win the National Christian College (NCCAA) MidEast Region Title. Union improved to 22-6 on the season, while Lee dropped to 23-5 overall.
Union captured the NCCAA MidEast Region title for the second straight season. The win was also Union's fourth straight win and their seven victory in eight games. The loss for Lee snapped a 16-game winning streak.
Lee swept Union in the Gulf South Conference season series, winning 68-66 at Union and 70-65 at Lee. All three games this season have been decided by a total of 10 points.
Lee opened the game with a 3-point play from NCCAA MidEast Region Player of the Year, Hollie German. She scored nine of her team's first 14 points. Averaging 24 points per game on the season, German was held to just those nine points in the first half.
The two teams went back and forth for the majority of the first half with four ties and 11 lead changes. Union's
Amy Philamlee, a first team all-region performer, drained a 3-pointer to put Union up 26-25 with 4:26 left in the half. Union outscored Lee 16-5 over the final 4:26 to lead 39-30 at the half. Philamlee sank her third 3-pointer of the first half in the final seconds to cap the run. Philamlee led all scorers with 13 points at the half. Union's Risner was 4-of-6 from long range in the first half for 12 points in the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Lee scored on a 3-pointer to start the half. At the 14:20 mark, Lee had cut the Union lead down to just two points, 46-44. Union answered with a 7-0 run, including a 3-pointer from
Chelsea Bodiford, to extend their lead back to nine points, 53-44.
Lee kept the game close and with five minutes left, German's first 3-pointer of the game start put her team on top, 59-58. The two teams swapped scoring trips, and then
Astrid Huttemann's 3-pointer put Union up 63-61 with 3:49 left. Karly Miller tied the game on Lee's next possession. However, Philamlee, drained her fourth 3-pointer of the game (4-of-6) with three minutes left to put her team up for good, 66-63. German's layup cut the lead down to one, but Philamlee drained a pair of three throws to put Union's lead back at 3-points, 68-65. After a missed 3-pointer from Lee with 50 seconds left, Union had the ball with a chance to seal the win. However, the Lady Bulldogs could not convert on a field goal attempt and Lee got the rebound with 20 seconds left. After a Lee timeout, the Lady Flames missed on their shot and Union's Huttemann chased down the rebound to clinch the win for Union.
Philamlee led all scorers with 22 points, including 7-of-11 shooting from the field, 4-of-6 from long range, and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. She added a team-high five assists. Risner finished with 15 points, while Shelby Ashcrafter posted a solid game with nine points and nine rebounds. Union shot 53 percent from the field, 52 percent (13-25) from 3-point range, and 71 percent (5-7) from the free throw line.
Lee was led by German with 16 points. Rachel Lockhart and Karley Miller added 13 points each. Lee shot 41 percent from the field, 34 percent (11-32) from 3-point range, and 86 percent (6-7) from the free throw line.
Union will advance to the NCCAA National Tournament next week, March 19-22 in Winona Lake, Indiana at Grace College. Union finished third in last season's national tournament. Lee will advance as an at-large to the national tournament.
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