JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team posted a 94-86 win over Christian Brothers University Thursday night in the regular season finale at Fred DeLay Gymnasium, David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 26-2 overall and 18-2 in the Gulf South Conference. Christian Brothers ended its season 10-15 overall and 7-13 in league play.
Union is ranked No. 11 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll, No. 9 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, and No. 2 in the NCAA D2 South Region Poll.
The win for Union also gave the Lady Bulldogs a second straight GSC Regular Season Title. It is the fifth GSC Regular Season Title in the seven years of GSC play. It is also the 32nd regular season conference title in program history.
Christian Brothers started the game with a 7-0 run. Union scored its first basket at the 7:36 mark on a layup from
Kennedy Childers. CBU stayed hot in the first quarter, leading by as many as nine points, before taking a 28-24 lead into the second quarter.
Union trailed by nine points again, 36-27, with 8:02 left in the second quarter. The Lady Bulldogs then got hot. A 3-pointer from
Tiffany Rechis on senior night started a 9-0 run for Union. Rechis hit two 3-pointers in that run. Union the game for the first time at 36-36. CBU took the lead again 40-36, but Union again put together a run, this time 12-0. 3-pointers from
Jada Smith and
Avree Carpenter sparked the run that gave Union the lead for good. Union led 48-42 at the half.
In the third quarter, CBU quickly cut the Union lead down to two points. But the Lady Bulldogs responded and pushed out to as many as 13 points, 63-50. After a 3-pointer from
Emily Beard, Union led 67-59, at the end of three quarters.
Morgan Martin, who finished with career-high 29 points, scored four points as a part of a 7-0 run for Union to open the fourth quarter. Beard added another 3-pointer in the run. Union led by as many as 15 points, 77-62, with 7:47 left to play. CBU cut the deficit to seven points a few time in the fourth quarter, but for most of the quarter, Union was up by double figures. A late 3-pointer from CBU set the final at 94-86.
Union was led by Martin's 29 points and 11 rebounds. Smith added 18 points and eight assists. Beard scored 15 points on five three-pointers, while Rechis added nine points on three 3-pointers.
Jada Perkins finished with eight points and seven assists. Union shot 54 percent from the field, 40 percent (12-30) from long range, and 67 percent (8-12) from the free throw line.
Christian Brothers was led by Lytle and Lee with 23 points each. Jones scored 15 and Enochs added 14 points. The Lady Bucs shot 50 percent from the field, 44 percent (18-41) from 3-point range, and 83 percent (10-12) from the foul line.
Union outrebounded CBU 31-28 and also won the turnover battle, committing just eight while forcing 15.
Up next for Union will be the GSC Quarterfinal Round game, Tuesday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m. at home versus 8-seeded West Alabama. The winner advances to Birmingham, Ala. on the campus of Samford University for the GSC Tournament Semifinals, Saturday, March 9.
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