JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Trevecca Nazarene University 84-55 Wednesday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 20-9 on the season and 15-6 in the Gulf South Conference. Trevecca Nazarene dropped to 16-10 overall and 13-8 in league play.
Union maintains its hold on second place in the Gulf South Conference standings with one game left. With the win, Union has secured a GSC Tournament quarterfinal home game, Monday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m.
The win was also the 795th victory of Mark Campbell's career.
Trevecca's Tatum Shaw opened the game with a personal 5-2 run including an opening 3-pointer to give her team the early lead. Union rallied with seven straight, capped by a 3-pointer from Olivia Lee. Union pushed out to a 14-9 lead at the end of a low scoring first quarter. Union's Courtney Zensen drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Union opened the second quarter with another 3-pointer from Lee. Union's lead reached double figures at 21-11 with 7:36 left in the half. Union, the nation's leader in 3-pointers per game with 11, hit six 3-pointers in the second quarter alone. Following another buzzer-beater three pointer, this time from Katie Yoder, Union led 42-23 at the half. The 19 point lead was the largest of the half for Union.
In the second quarter alone, Union shot 71 percent form the field and 75 percent (6-of-8) from 3-point range.
Another 3-pointer for Union opened the third quarter and Union's lead was over the 20-mark for the first time at 45-23. The Lady Bulldogs extended its lead to 29 points, 62-33 with 1:43 left in the third. TNU trimmed its deficit to 62-39 heading into the fourth.
Union's lead hit 30 points for the first time in the fourth quarter, 79-39 with 1:49 left in the game. Union led by as many as 31 points before taking the 84-55 final.
Union was led by Lee and Abigail Bryan with 18 points each. Jensen added 16 points, while Yoder finished with 10. Union shot 49 percent from the field, 44 percent (14-32) form long range, and made all four free throws on the night.
Trevecca Nazarene was led by Gillies and Jones with 11 points, while Trotter scored 10. The Trojans shot 40 percent from the field, 36 percent (5-14) from long range, and 63 percent (12-19) from the free throw line.
Up next for Union will be the final regular season home game of the year, and the final regular season home game for hall of fame head coach, Mark Campbell. Campbell is retiring after 27 years as Union's women's basketball head coach. He will remain at Union as Director of Athletics. Union plays Lee at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Fred DeLay Gymnasium.
-UNION-
