JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated Lee University 59-47 Friday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 21-9 overall and 16-6 in the Gulf South Conference. Lee dropped to 18-9 on the season and 14-8 in league play. 

Union sealed the 2-seed in next week's GSC Tournament and will host the quarterfinal game Monday night at 5:30 p.m. at The Fred versus 7-seed West Florida. (PURCHASE GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS HERE). With a win Monday night, Union will host the semifinal game Thursday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m. In a new tournament format, the higher seed with host each game all the way to the championship. No games in Birmingham this year. The championship game is schedule for Sunday, March 8 at the home of the highest remaining seed. Teams and time to be announced. 

The loss dropped Lee to the 5-seed and the Lady Flames will travel to 4-seed Trevecca Nazarene University Monday night. 

Union is currently ranked No. 4 in the latest NCAA D2 South Region Rankings. These are the rankings that determine seeding into the national tournament. 

In a very low scoring start to the game, Lee scored the games first points with a jumper at the 5:40 mark of the first quarter. Union finally got on the board with a 3-pointer from Courtney Jensen at the 3:54 mark. The teams went back and forth with lead holding a 10-7 lead at the end of one. 

Olivia Lee for Union opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to tie the game. Lee answered and pushed its lead to as many as six points, 19-13, with 4:26 left in the half. Union closed out the half with a 7-0 run to take 20-19 lead into the locker room. 

For the third straight quarter, Union's first basket was a 3-pointer. This time from Aubrey Sorrells to put Union up 23-19. Lee managed to tie the game one last time at 26-26 with 3:06 to play in the third. However, another 3-pointer from Olivia Lee sparked a 7-2 run to close the third and give Union the 36-30 lead. 

Union pushed its lead to as many as 13 points twice in the fourth quarter, including 48-35 and 50-37. Lee got as close as seven a few times late. Union was 7-of-9 from the free throw line in the final 90 seconds to seal the 59-47 win. 

Union was led by Olivia Lee with 22 points, the only Lady Bulldog in double figures. Katie Yoder added nine points. The Lady Bulldogs shot 29 percent from the field, 29 percent (9-31) from 3-point range, and 71 percent (20-28) from the foul line. 

Lee was led by Delbridge with 12 points and Mahoney with 11 points. The Lady Flames shot 37 percent from the field, 21 percent (5-24) form long range, and 75 percent (6-8) from the foul line. 

-UNION-