JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team posted a 77-60 win over the University of West Alabama in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Gulf South Conference Tournament. Top-seeded Union improved to 27-2 overall, while West Alabama ended its season 11-18. 

Union is ranked No. 10 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll and No. 9 in the D2SIDA Media Poll. Union is currently No. 2 in the NCAA D2 South Region Rankings with a new poll coming out Wednesday, March 6. The region poll decides the seeding and at-large bids to the regional round of the national tournament. 

West Alabama scored first in the game, but Union answered quickly with a 3-pointer from Avree Carpenter. Union jumped out to a 12-3 lead to take control early. UWA got as close as six points in the first quarter, but Union stretched the lead out to 24-10 by the end of the quarter. 

Carpenter hit her second 3-pointer early in the second quarter to help the Lady Bulldogs extend their lead to 28-10 with 8:47 left. West Alabama stormed back with a 14-2 run to cut the deficit down to six points again, 30-24, with 3:07 left in the half. Union's Emily Beard started a 7-0 run for Union with her first 3-pointer that pushed the lead back to double figures. Union led 37-24 at the half. 

Union received balanced scoring in the first half with seven different players scoring. Carpenter and Jada Smith led the way with eight each. Union sot 50 percent from the field and 33 percent (4-12) from long range in the first 20 minutes. 

In the third quarter, Union extended its lead to as many as 23 points, 55-32, with 11 seconds left in the quarter. A coast-to-coast layup from UWA put the score at 55-34 entering the fourth quarter. 

Union pushed out to its largest lead of the game, 63-37, with 7:54 left to play. West Alabama did not go away and following an 18-6 run, including three 3-pointers, the Tigers had cut the Union lead down to 69-55. Union got the lead back to 18 points before cruising to the 77-60 final. 

Union was led by Smith with 21 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Morgan Martin added 16 points, Beard finished with 13 points, and Jada Perkins scored 12 points. Deja Graves added nine rebounds to share the team lead. Union shot 45 percent from the field, 28 percent (7-25), and 62 percent (18-29) from the free throw line. 

West Alabama was led by Field with 14 points and Garrett with 10 points. The Tigers shot 34 percent from the field, 32 percent (7-22), and 79 percent (11-14) from the foul line. 

Union dominated the glass 41-31 over UWA, while both teams committed 15 turnovers. 

Union advances to the GSC Semifinals Saturday, March 9 at 12:00 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-