JACKSON, Tenn. – The No. 7/15 Lady Bulldogs defeated Auburn University in Montgomery by a score of 86-79. Union’s record improves to 23-2 (17-2 GSC) while Auburn Montgomery’s record falls to 16-8 overall (14-6 GSC).
The Lady Bulldogs are coming off of a two-game road trip in which they defeated the University of West Florida and fell to No. 3 Valdosta State University.
Auburn Montgomery (No. 6 in South Region per D2CSC) came into this evening’s game winners of nine straight games.
Union jumped out to an early lead in the first period of play, leading AUM 23-10. Courtney Zensen got a three to fall at the buzzer for Union’s fifth three-pointer of the game. Shanique Lucas led all players in scoring with seven points off of 3-4 shooting (1-1 3PT). Lucas also collected two rebounds and an assist in the period.
Auburn Montgomery went on a 14-2 run to shorten the lead to five points nearing the end of the first half. With two minutes left in the game Tian Addison had 13 points for AUM off of 5-8 shooting (2-4 3PT). The Lady Bulldogs struggled to find rhythm offensively in the second period, turning the ball over five times. Auburn Montgomery finished the half converting on a right-handed layup by Jemeriah Moore and two made free throws by Danielle Luckey, giving AUM their first lead of the game (38-36).
Shanique Lucas still led all Lady Bulldogs in scoring with 11 points. Olivia Lee led all Union players in rebounds with four. Lee and Anousinh shared the team lead in assists with two.
Union and AUM went possession-for-possession in the third period. Union edged out the AUM offense, outscoring them 20-17. The Lady Bulldogs ended the third period up a point on Auburn Montgomery (56-55). Shanique Lucas pushed her point total to 18 points in the period. Olivia Lee entered double-digits scoring in thethird period, recording 10 points for the game.
Leah Cauble got a tough layup to fall with eight minutes left in the game for a 58-57 Union lead. Shylee Morrison then got a clutch bucket to fall with 6:30 remaining to fall for her second three-pointer of the game. Morrison backed up her clutch three-pointer with a baseline drive and floater, giving Union a 63-61 lead. After AUM tied the game, Lucas got a left-handed layup to go, retaking the lead. In transition Auburn Montgomery failed to answer, leading to an and-one finish by Leah Cauble.
Cauble followed up that possesion with a three-pointer from the top of the key, giving Union a 71-65 lead with four minutes left in the game. Lucas set a new season-high in points after making both free throw opportunities, giving the Lady Bulldogs an eight-point cushion down the stretch. Auburn Montgomery continued to battle, scoring a tough layup and immediately forcing a turnover and converting under the basket, cutting the Union lead back down to four. Jemeriah Moore then connected on a three-pointer from the right wing, pulling AUM back to within a point.
With a one-point lead, Lucas got a layup to rattle down, 75-72 Lady Bulldogs. Moore answered right back with a floater from the right side of the lane before Lucas knocked down a pull-up jumper from just outside the lane, giving Union a 77-74 lead. Allasha Dudley hit a three-pointer with three seconds remaining, tying the game at 77. Leah Cauble got a shot up at the buzzer that fell just short of the basket, sending the game to overtime.
The Lady Bulldogs forced a turnover to begin the five minute period and immediately fed Lucas. Lucas knocked down a jumper from the free-throw line, giving Union a two-point lead. Thus far, the game has had eight lead changes. Lucas continued her takeover, picking up two more points for an 82-77 lead. Leah Cauble extended the Union lead to nine points, putting away Auburn Montgomery.
Shanique Lucas led all scorers in points with 32 points, a point shy of her career-high of 33. Lucas also collected six rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Olivia Lee led Union in rebounds with eight. Jazalyn Anousinh led the team in assists with six.
The No. 7/15 Lady Bulldogs next game is on Saturday, Feb. 17. Union will play the University of Alabama in Huntsville starting at 2:00 p.m.
