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JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Valdosta State University Monday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium 74-73 to claim the 2018 NCAA D2 South Region Title. Union, now 31-3 on the season, will advance to its first NCAA Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, S.D. Union opens play Monday, March 19.
In the win, Union's Chelsey Shumpert was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. She also broke the Gulf South Conference's single season scoring record with her third point of the night. Shumpert needed just two points to pass former Union Lady Bulldog Amy Philamlee's GSC record of 790 points scored in 2014-15 season. Shumpert finished with 30 points in the game. She is now at 818 for the season, which is 20 points shy of Union's single season record of 835 by Stephanie Clark in 2004-05.
Joining Shumpert on the all-tournament team was Union Sara Lytle, Valdosta State's Madi Mitchel and Taylor Buie, and Lee's Erin Walsh.
The game came down to the final possession to decide the winner. The fourth quarter started with the game tied 52-52. Shumpert capped a 9-0 Union run with the first basket of the fourth quarter. It was the first lead for Union since 2-0. The lead was short-lived as Valdosta State started a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer from Taylor Buie. The VSU lead was 59-54 with 7:32 left to play. Union responded with a 10-0 run including jumpers from Bria Gaines, Shumpert and Tiffany Rechis. Union's lead was 64-59 with 5:01 left. But again, the lead changed hands with the Lady Blazers scoring eight of the next 10 points to lead 67-66 with 3:21 left. Union got a 3-pointer from Shumpert and a free throw from Lytle to regain the lead, 70-67 with 1:36 left to play.
Four free throws from VSU surrounding a layup from Union's Jada Perkins set the score at 72-71 Union, with 42 seconds left. Union missed on a layup attempt as the shot clock was winding down. Then, VSU's Kayla Bonilla hit a tough jumper with 13 seconds left to give her team the 73-72 lead. After a couple of Union timeouts, Shumpert took the ball to the lane and was fouled. She sank both free throws to give Union the 74-73 lead. Valdosta State took the ball on their end after a timeout. Union's Kyvin Goodin-Rogers altered the VSU shot to give Union the win at the buzzer.
Valdosta State stormed out to a big lead in the first quarter after making their first five 3-pointers. The Lady Blazers shot over 80 percent from long range in the first quarter, and 60-plus percent from the field. VSU led by as man as 10 points, 19-9 in the first quarter and was up 22-15 at quarter's end. VSU went back up by 11 points, 29-18 in the second quarter. However, Union kept chipping away. Union cut the lead to four points, 36-32, in the final minute of the half. VSU led 38-32 at the half.
Union tied the game at 40-40 with 7:26 left in the third quarter. But Valdosta State pushed the lead back to as many as seven points, 52-45, with 1:57 left. However, Union scored the last seven points of the quarter to tie the game 52-52, heading into the fourth.
Union was led by Shumpert with a game high 30 points, including 18 in the second half. Lytle added 20 points and Jada Perkins scored 11 points, while leading with seven assists. Shumpert led with seven rebounds. Goodin-Rogers led with two blocks and three steals. Union shot 47 percent from the field, 24 percent (4-17) from 3-point range, and 88 percent (14-16) from the free throw line.
Valdosta State was led by Buie with 24 points, including 5-of-7 shooting from long range. Madi Mitchell with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Kenya Samone' Dixon added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Blazers shot 53 percent from the field, 56 percent (9-16) from 3-point range, and 77 percent (10-13) from the free throw line. VSU shot 63 percent (7-11) 3-point range in the first half.
Union committed just one turnover in the game, compared to 18 from Valdosta State. The Lady Blazers won the rebound battle 28-16.
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