JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Eckerd College 73-48 in the second round of the 2022 NCAA D2 National Championships, South Region. Top-seeded Union and nations No. 1 team improved to 28-2 overall, while Eckerd ended its season at 21-5. 

With the win, Union advances to the region title game, the sweet sixteen, Monday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at Union's Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union will face Gulf South Conference foe, the 7-seed Valdosta State. (WATCH)

The semifinal win also marked Union 25th straight win on the season, and 21st straight win at home. 

Union head coach Mark Campbell said, "It was a tough game. In the first half, we struggled with the way they were defending. I knew playing Paul's (Honsinger) team, they were going to be disciplined, and it was tough. I thought we defended well most of the night, especially in the third and early fourth quarters blocking out. We also shot well from 3-point range." 

In the game, Union and Eckerd played a close first half with Union leading 31-28 at halftime. Union led 17-14 after one and both teams scored 14 points each in the second quarter. 

However, the third quarter was the different in the game. Union scored 23 points in the third quarter, but the eye-popping number was the fact Union allowed just one point for Eckerd in the quarter. Eckerd was 0-of-16 from the field in the third quarter and was just 1-of-2 from the foul line in that time. 

Meanwhile, Union, improving its shooting percentage each quarter of the game, shot 55 percent from the field and 50 percent (3-6) from 3-point range in the third quarter. Union led 54-29 at the end of three quarters. 

Union kept up the hot shooting with 58 percent in the fourth quarter and 83 percent (5-6) from long range. A 3-pointer from Emily Beard Dunnagan with 4:07 left gave Union its largest lead of the night at 30 points, 70-40. 

Eckerd cut into Union's lead late, matching the Lady Bulldogs at 19-19 in the fourth quarter, but it was much too late. 

Union was led by Jaelencia Williams with 20 points and nine rebounds. Shanique Lucas added 14 points. Ashtyn Baker and Dunnagan added nine points each on three 3-pointers each. Bethany Dillard scored seven and Samariah Thompson added six. Union finished the game, 45 percent from the field, 50 percent (13-26) from 3-point range, and 86 percent (12-14) from the foul line. 

Eckerd was led by Maya Price with 10 points and Hannah Wentworth with nine points. The Tritons shot 28 percent from the field, 15 percent (5-33) from long range, and 86 percent (7-8) from the free throw line. 

-UNION-