Link to GSC Championship Tournament Page

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Union University women's basketball team won the 2020 Gulf South Conference Tournament Title  69-67 over Delta State University at the Pete Hanna Center. Union improved to 26-5, while Delta State dropped to 23-7. 

Both teams will advance to the NCAA D2 National Championships and will play in the South Region. The region seeds and host team will be announced at 9 p.m. central time Sunday, March 8 at www.NCAA.com. You can access direct links at www.uuathletics.com. 

The GSC Tournament title for Union is the third in the six years of being eligible for GSC/NCAA postseason play in 2015. Union won the 2015, 2018, and now the 2020 title. It was the third time that Union and Delta State met for the title in the six years (2015, 2016-loss in overtime to DSU, and 2020). The 2020 GSC Tournament Title also brings Union's all-time conference tournament title total to 28. 

The game was close throughout. Union's largest lead was eight points, 63-55. Delta State's largest lead was four, 37-33. Delta State led 37-35 at the half. 

Union's 63-55 lead followed a 3-pointer from Jacie HIggins with 5:58 left to play. It looked like Union was finally going to pull away. However, Delta State responded with six straight points to cut the Union lead to 63-61 with 2:55 left. Jaelencia Williams stopped the run with a layup to put Union up 65-61. 

DSU and Union swapped baskets on the next two possessions with Jada Smith putting Union up 67-63. Then DSU and Union swapped a pair of free throws, again Smith making two to keep Union's lead at four, 69-65, with 12 seconds left. DSU's Patterson scored in the paint with five seconds left. Union got the ball in, but missed on two free throws to give DSU a chance. The Lady Statesmen got the shot they wanted, a jumper in the paint, but it bounced off the rim into the hands of Williams for the game-winning rebound for Union. 

Union was led by Jaelencia Williams with 20 points and 12 rebounds, her 15th double-double of the season. Jada Smith scored 18 points with seven assists. Shanique Lucas added 11 points. Emily Beard scored nine points with three 3-pointers, all coming in the second half. Higgins finished with eight points and Leah Cauble with three points. Union shot 47 percent from the field, 43 percent (6-14) from long range, and 75 percent ( 9-12) from the free throw line. 

Delta State was led by Patterson with 28 points and 16 rebounds. Nia Johnson added 24 points. The Lady Statesmen shot 37 percent from the field, 15 percent (2-13) from 3-point range, and 68 percent (13-19) from the foul line. 

For Union, Jada Smith was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while Smith and Jaelencia Williams were both named to the GSC All-Tournament Team. 

Up next for Union will be the NCAA D2 National Championships Regional round, beginning Friday, March 13. The location is to be determined. 

-UNION-