JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women's basketball team posted a 63-49 win over Lee University in a battle of first and second places teams in the Gulf South Conference. Union maintained a tie atop the standings with a 10-2 GSC record, while moving to 14-2 overall. Lee dropped to 10-5 on the season, and 7-5 in league play.
Union opened the game with a layup from
DeAnna Thompson. Thompson is the reigning GSC Player of the Week after posted a pair of double-doubles last week. She recorded third straight double-double to lead Union with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Union never trailed in the game, and after the first and only tie of the game at 2-2, Union's
Emily Sissom hit a 3-pointer to put Union up 5-2. Union maintained a lead in the upper single digits for most of the first half. Then with 2:48 left, a 3-point play by
Jaclissa Haislip put Union up by 10 points, 28-18. Lee cut the their deficit down to eight points, but Union responded. Following a 3-pointer from
Amber Rechis in the final seconds of the half, Union led by 13, 37-24 at the break.
Union shot 46 percent from the field in the first half, including 46 percent (6-13) from 3-point range. Eight different players scored in the first half for Union.
In the second half, both teams struggled to score with Union outscoring the Flames 26-25 in the final 20 minutes. Union made just 3-of-17 3-pointers in the second half, while Lee was just 1-of-11 in the half and 1-of-16 in the game from long range.
Union's Thompson posted a second half double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the final 20 minutes.
Amy Philamlee scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half.
Union led by as many as 21 points in the second half, 60-39, with 3:43 left before cruising to the 63-47 final.
Union was led by Thompson's 16 points and 13 rebounds for her 11
th double-double of the year. Philamlee finished with a double-double of 14 points and 12 assists. Kesley Risner added 11 rebounds. Guard
Emily Sissom and
Chelsea Bodiford both had strong nights with nine points each, including three 3-pointers each. Union shot 38 percent from the field, 30 percent (9-30) from long range, and 77 percent (10-13) from the free throw line.
Lee was led by Shelby Brown with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Emileigh Swafford added 11 points. The Flames shot 31 percent from the field, six percent (1-16) from 3-point range, and 71 percent (10-14) from the free throw line.
Up next for Union will be another home game Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m. versus Shorter (Ga.). The game can be heard on 93.1 FM, seen on EPlus TV 6, or online at
www.uuathletics.com/live.
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