BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Union University women's basketball team captured the Gulf South Conference title following a 62-50 win over Delta State (Miss.) University Saturday afternoon in the 2015 VisitSpaceCoast.com Gulf South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament. Union improved to 26-3 on the season, while Delta State dropped to 19-10.
 
Union, the No. 1 seed in the south region, now has the automatic bid from the GSC to the NCAA Division II National Tournament with includes next week's region tournament. Delta State will have to wait and see if they can earn an at-large bid. The region tournament will most likely be hosted by Union, but the official announcement for host and participants will be made Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. via a web stream from the NCAA. Fans can view the web stream Sunday night via Union's website at www.uuathletics.com.
 
After the win, Union head coach Mark Campbell said, "We have become even more of a team in the last few weeks. It is great to be around such great individuals I am so proud of our team. I felt an energy from our players when Amy fouled out. They continued the momentum and finished the game. I am also so over joyed for Emily. She has worked so hard and today, on the biggest stage of her career, she stepped up and made plays for us along with so many other players."
 
Delta State starting the scoring with a jumper from Anissa Jackson. Union's Thompson answered with offensive board and put back to tie the game. After Delta State pushed the lead to 6-2, Union's Emily Sissom hit a 3-pointer to pull Union within one point, 6-5. Both teams when scoreless for a span of about three minutes. DSU's Randi Ball hit a turnaround jumper to put the Lady Statesmen up 8-5. Amy Philamlee of Union answered with a 3-point play to tie the game at 8-8 with just over 12 minutes to play in the half. Down by two, Union's Philamlee drained a 3-pointer to put Union up 11-10 with 11:20 left in the half for their first lead of the game.
 
Both teams again went cold from the field. Fredi Nielsen then hit two free throws with 3:07 left in the half, snapping a 7:28 scoreless drought for Union. Union extended their lead to 15-10 with 2:32 left in the half on a pair of free throws from Philamlee. With 1:14 left, DSU's Collins put in a layup to snap a 10 minute scoring drought, pulling her team back to within three points, 15-12. Union's Jaclissa Haislip made one of two free throws to give Union a 16-12 lead. After a timeout, Delta State's Ball cut the Union lead to just two points with 15 seconds left in the half, setting the halftime score at 16-14 in favor of Union.
 
Union shot just 21 percent from the field, including 14 percent (2-of-14). The Lady Statesmen shot 24 percent from the field and were 0-of-5 from 3-point range.
 
After a missed shot on their first possession, Delta State's Chelsey Rhodes stole the ball on defense and tied the game 16-16 on the layup. Union responded on their next possession with a three pointer from Emily Sissom to lead 19-16. A defensive stop later, Union's Risner quickly drained a 3 pointer to give Union their largest lead to this point in the game, 22-16.
 
With Union leading 26-21, Sissom hit another 3-pointer to put Union up 29-21. Following an offensive rebound and put back by Delta State, Haislip drained a 3-pointer to put Union up nine points, 32-23. Union got a defensive stop and responded with a 3-pointer from Kelsey Risner to make the Union lead 37-25.
 
Four straight points from Delta State's Seneca Walton cut the Union lead to eight points, 37-29. However, Union's Amber Rechis moved the lead back to 10 points with a layup with 10:27 left in the game.
 
Delta State's Collins hit her team's first three pointer of the game with 10:05 left to cut their deficit down to 39-32. With Union leading 41-34, Risner hit her third 3-point to put Union back up by 10, 44-34. Another key defensive stop for Union led to a pair of free throws by Amber Rechis put Union back up by 12, 46-34 with 7:40 left.
 
Then with 7:38 left, back-to-back fouls called on the nation's leading scorer Philamlee put her on the bench with five fouls in the game. Campbell said, "Our energy stayed high despite Amy not being on the floor. Different players stepped up at that crucial time in the game." After Philamlee fouled out, Union scored on five of their next six possession to seal the win.
 
Leading by 11, DeAnna Thompson completed a 3-point play to put Union up by their largest lead of 14, 49-35. Two possession later, DSU's Rhodes hit her first 3-pointer of the game to bring her team back to within 11 points with 5:15 left in the game. Rechis for Union responded with a pair of free throws to give Union a 51-38 lead with 5:01 left.
 
A layup form Rhodes cut the Union lead back to 11, but Chelsea Bodiford drained a 3-pointer from the corner to put Union back up by 14. Union's Thompson answered a DSU basket to keep the Union lead at 14 points, 58-44 with 2:20 left in the game.
 
Delta State then got six straight points from Jackson to cut the Union lead to eight points, 58-50, with 37 seconds left in the game. But then a pair of free throws from Risner with 20 seconds left put Union up by 10, 60-50. Risner then was fouled on a rebound on a missed 3-point attempt by Delta State. Her two free throws put Union up 62-50 for the final.
 
After the very low scoring first half, Union and Delta State picked up the pace in the second half. Union outscored the Lady Statesmen 46-36 in the second half.
 
Union was led by Kelsey Risner with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Philamlee added 14 points with five assists. Eight total players scored for Union in the game, including five players with at least one 3-pointer. Thompson finished with seven points and eight rebounds. Sissom had nine points on three 3-pointers and Rechis finished with eight points. Union shot 44 percent from the field, including 65 percent from the field in the second half. Union finished 36 percent (9-25) from long range, including 64 percent (7-11) in the second half. Union shot 86 percent (19-22) from the free throw line.
 
Delta State was led by Anissa Jackson with 15 points. Rhandi Ball added 12 points. Carly Keller led with six assists, while Ball and Seneca Walton added nine rebounds each. The Lady Statesmen shot 34 percent from the field, 13 percent (2-16) from 3-point range and 67 percent (4-6) from the free throw line.
 
The GSC announced their 2015 All-Tournament team and Most Outstanding Player awards. Union's Philamlee was named the 2015 GSC Most Outstanding Player, while Sissom joined Philamlee on the all-tournament team. Other members of the team included Ieshia Alexander (Shorter), Taylor Beverly (West Georgia), Seneca Walton (Delta State), Chelsey Rhodes (Delta State).
 
#UNION#