JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University women's basketball team defeated the University of West Florida Monday night, 69-61, in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Gulf South Conference Tournament. Union improved to 22-9 on the season, while West Florida dropped to 18-12 overall and awaits its postseason fate in the selection show Sunday night, March 8. 

Second-seeded Union advances to the GSC Semifinals, Thursday night, at Union's Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court, at 6 p.m. versus the winner of the Delta State/Valdosta State game. Purchase tickets at www.uuathletics.com/tickets. 

Union scored first with a layup from Morgan Escobedo, but it was West Florida with jumping out to the early 10-6 advantage. Union regained the lead as the teams went back and forth for the remainder of the quarter. Union led 20-18 at the end of one. 

Olivia Lee hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter as Union took its largest lead thus far at 23-18. UWF countered with a 6-0 run to retake the lead. Courtney Zensen's 3-pointer sparked a 6-0 run to answer UWF and went back up by five again, 29-24 with 5:29 left in the half. Back came the Argos to take a 34-33 lead into the locker room. 

Union's Lee and Grimes for UWF led all scorers with nine first half points. West Florida hot 62 percent from the field in the first half, while Union managed just 36 percent shooting, hitting just two three pointers. Union was well short of its NCAA D2 leading 11-threes per game pace. 

The third quarter was more of the same with the teams going back and forth, neither team able to pull away. The scored was tied 51-51 entering the fourth quarter. 

In the fourth, Union's Lee scored first to give Union the 2-point lead. UWF tied it a couple of time early in the fourth. Union, however, was finally able to push the lead to nine, the largest for either team on the night, 66-57 with 2:13 left to play. An 11-2 run for Union, capped by three pointer from Katilyn Yoder finally gave Union some breathing room late. Union hit 3-of-6 free throws in the final minute to seal the eight point victory. 

The game featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes. 

Union was led by Lee with 18 points and seven rebounds. Yoder scored 12 points, while Zensen added 10, including three 3-pointers. The Lady Bulldogs shot 40 percent from the field, including 60 percent in the fourth quarter. Union finished 6-of-23 from long range (26%) and 15-of-20 (75%) from the free throw line. 

West Florida was led by Grimes with 17 points and Rendall with 12 points. The Argos shot 48 percent from the field, 24 percent (4-17) from 3-point range, and 62 percent (13-21) from the foul line. 

-UNION-