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JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team posted a 67-66 win over Delta State University in the quarterfinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament Tuesday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Second-seeded Union improved to 24-3 on the season, while Delta State ended its year at 12-17. 

Union is ranked No. 13 in the latest WBCA Coaches' Poll, No. 17 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, and currently No. 3 in the most recent NCAA Region Rankings with the new region poll coming out Wednesday afternoon. 

With Union trailing by 10 points, its largest deficit of the night, with 8:49 left in the game. Shanique Lucas scored 10 of Union's next 12 points as a part of a 12-2 run and the Lady Bulldogs tied the game at 57-57. Lucas had nine points at the half but scored 24 in the second half to propel Union to the comeback.

Delta stopped the run and regained the lead by one just before Union's Leah Church hit a 3-pointer to give Union its first lead since the 17-16 first-quarter score. Union pushed its lead to the largest of the night with five straight points from Shanique Lucas, 65-59, capping an 8-0 run and a stretch where Union outscored DSU 20-4. 

DSU rallied to cut the deficit to 65-64 with 1:42 left. After a Union miss, DSU had the ball in the final minute with a chance to take the lead. However, Shylee Morrison got a steal for Union, was fouled, and sank both free throws to give Union a 67-64 lead with 52 seconds left. After a Delta State miss and a Union turnover, DSU hit a shot with 26 seconds left to again get within one point, 67-66. Shanique Lucas, who finished with a career-high 33 points, missed two free throws with 17 seconds left to give the Lady Statesmen life. DSU was fouled on the floor in the final seconds and Union's Shanique Lucas stole the inbounds pass to seal the win. Union was 9-for-10 from the free-throw line in the first 36 minutes of play. Union was 9-for-12 in the final four minutes from the line.

Union scored first to start the game on a basket from Naomi Van Nes and later got a 3-pointer from Lauren West to tie the game at 5-5. Delta State answered Union and was able to take two four-point leads during the quarter. Union pushed ahead with a 17-16 lead at the end of one. Delta State scored first in the second quarter and kept the lead until midway through the fourth quarter. DSU led 32-27 at the half. 

Union was out rebounded 27-17 in the game but used its defense to force 23 turnovers while committing just 12. Union scored almost half of its points, 31, off of DSU turnovers. 

Union was led by Shanique Lucas's 33 points, topping her previous career best of 32. She added seven rebounds and seven steals in the game and was 10-of-16 from the field. Jordan Little was Union's next high scorer with seven. Union averages 10 made three per game and hit just five in the win, one from five different players. Union shot 50 percent from the field in the second half after just 29 percent in the first half. Union made just two field goals in the second quarter. Union finished 39 percent from the field, 30 percent (5-25) from 3-point range, and 82 percent (18-22) from the foul line. 

Delta State was led by Alana Smith with 25 points, Camryn Davis with 12 points, and Grace Watson with 10 points. The Lady Statesmen shot 54 percent from the field, 14 percent (1-7) from long range, and 50 percent (3-6) from the free throw line. 

Union now advances to the GSC Semifinals for the eighth time in nine years of being GSC members. Union will face the 3-seed West Florida Saturday at 2:15 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala. at the Pete Hanna Center. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at Union's coverage page. The game will be streamed on FloSports with a subscription being required to watch. 

-UNION-