BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Union University women's basketball team posted an 89-62 win over the University of Alabama in Huntsville Saturday afternoon in the Gulf South Conference Semifinals. The semifinals and finals of the GSC Championships are being played at the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University. 

Union head coach Mark Campbell said, "Our team played really well today on both ends of the floor. Jada was huge in the first half for us and our players' attention to detail in scouting reports was great today. We are excited to play another day."

Union (25-5) got off to a quick start to lead 12-3 after the first three plus minutes of play. Alabama Huntsville (19-11) chipped away and with three minutes left in the first quarter, tied the game 17-17. Jada Smith for Union scored the final five points of the period for Union, putting her team up 22-17. Smith scored 11 points in the first quarter. 

Smith continued her hot hand in the second quarter, scoring nine of Union's 15 points as Union extended its lead to 37-29 at the half. Smith led all scorers with 20 first half points. 

Union put the game away with a dominate third quarter, outscoring UAH 32-10 in the period. UAH scored six of its 10 third quarter points in the final 1:33 on a pair of 3-pointers. Union pushed its lead to as many as 31 points (64-33). Sadie Knee for Union gave the Lady Bulldogs a 69-39 lead with a three pointer at the end of the third quarter.  

In the fourth quarter, Union was able to rest Jada Smith for the entire quarter as she finished with a game-high 26 points. Union extended its lead to a high of 33 points four times in the fourth quarter, the last time (87-54) coming after a Leah Cauble 3-pointer with 1:10 left. 

Union was led by GSC Player of the Year Jada Smith with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field. She added a game-high eight assists. Jaelencia Williams added her 14th double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Shanique Lucas scored 12 points and Jacie Higgins added 11 points. Cauble and Emily Beard finished with nine and six points respectively, combining for 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. Union shot 54 percent from the field, 44 percent (8-18) from long range, and 79 (15-19) from the free throw line. 

Union out rebounded Alabama Huntsville 46-26. 

Alabama Huntsville was led by Emiline Payne with 14 points. Holly Harris added 12 points and Katie Speegle scored 10 points. The Chargers shot 33 percent from the field, 29 percent (10-35) from 3-point range, and 71 percent (12-17) from the foul line. 

Up next for Union will be the GSC Title game, March 8 at 12:30 p.m. in Birmingham. Listen to Gerry Neese on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. The game will also be carried live on ESPN.com and the ESPN App. 

This will be the fourth appearance for Union in the GSC Title game in the six years of being tournament eligible after joining the league in 2012-13. Union is 2-1 in GSC Title games, winning the championship in 2015 and 2018, while falling in overtime in the 2016 title game. 

-UNION-