Union University Women's Basketball vs. Eckerd College, March 11, 2023, 4 p.m. (Central)
NCAA D2 National Championships - Second Round (Region Semifinals)

• South Region Tournament Page
• NCAA D2 Women's Basketball National Championships  |  Bracket
• GSC Standings  |   NCAA Rankings
• Union women's basketball stats:  SORTABLE  |  PRINTABLE (pdf)
• Union women's basketball roster:  WORD (pronunciations)
• COVERAGE  |  GAMEDAY

 

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TAMPA, Fla.. - Union University women's basketball opened the 2023 NCAA D2 Women's Basketball National Championships with a 58-52 win over 6-seed Valdosta State University Friday in the regional round. Third seeded Union will continue play in the region tournament, Saturday, March 11 at 4 p.m. central time versus 2-seed Eckerd College. Union is one of two GSC schools remaining in the final four teams wit 4-seed Lee set to play top-seeded Tampa at 6:30 p.m. central time Saturday.

• Fans not able to attend the game can listen to audio, watch online, or view live stats by going to Union's coverage page at uuathletics.com/coverage.
• Union and Eckerd have met only one time in the history of the women's basketball programs, and oddly enough, it was in last season's region semifinal game at Union. Union defeated Eckerd 73-48. The difference in the game was the third quarter where Union outscored Eckerd 23-1. Union led 31-28 at he half. 
• Union has played four postseason games, three in the GSC Tournament and one region tournament game. In all four games, Union led early, trailed in the fourth quarter, and rallied to win each of the four games. 
• For Union, this is the sixth straight trip to the national tournament and eight overall since joining the NCAA back in 2014-15. The lone season Union did not make the nationals was 2017. Union has been a No. 1 seed four times, a 2-seed twice, a 3-seed, and a 4-seed in the eight regionals. Union won the 2018 region title and finished runner-up in the 2015 and 2022 region tournaments, all three of those championship game appearances came with Union as the No. 1 seed and host.
• Union is 9-5 all-time in region tournament games. Union is 5-2 in region quarterfinals games, 3-1 in region semifinal games, and 1-2 in region championships games. Union is 2-2 in region tournament games away from home.  
• Union is riding an 16-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the GSC and second longest in the South Region (Tampa 19 straight wins). Union's last loss was the home overtime loss to Lee back to January 7.
• This will be Union's second region tournament played in Florida, as Union was a 2-seed in 2019 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. That season, Union lost the quarterfinal game to 7-seed Nova Southeastern. 
• After winning the Gulf South Conference Tournament for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in program history, the Union University women's basketball team has earned the automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA D2 National Championships. Union will be a 3-seed in this week's regional round to be played at the top-seed University of Tampa. 
• Union's Shanique Lucas was named first team All-GSC for the second time in her career. Samariah Thompson was named second team All-GSC this season. Both were named to the GSC All-Tournament team, while Lucas was named GSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Lucas was also named D2CCA All-South Region first team.
• Nine different Lady Bulldogs have hit at least one 3-pointer in a game, while eight are in double figures. Lauren West leads Union with 60  made 3-pointers, while Bethany Dillard has 58, and Leah Church is at 45.
• Union is No. 9 in the WBCA Coaches' Preseason Poll and No. 11 in the D2SIDA Media Poll.

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