JACKSON, Tenn. – On Saturday afternoon, the No. 14/13 Union University women’s basketball team played their last regular season home game of the season in front of a huge crowd in Fred DeLay Gymnasium, winning 90-61 against Valdosta State University and clinching their 10th Gulf South Conference regular season title. This title is also the 37th regular season title overall in program history, and this week is the 69th consecutive week for the team to be in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) top 25 poll. After the game, Union honored its seniors, who accounted for 56 of the team’s points in the game. With the win, Union is now 24-3 overall (19-1 GSC), while Valdosta State drops to 15-10 overall (10-9 GSC).
Olivia Lee led Union in scoring once again, putting up 23 points, the second-most in a single game in her career. She also set a career-high in free throws made in a single game with eight and led the team, going 8-8 from the foul line. Senior Shylee Morrison set a new personal career high in points scored for the second straight contest as she scored 17 with a perfect 3-3 game from beyond the arc. Senior Bethany Dillard also scored double digits with 13 and had three makes of her own from three-point range.
The Lady Bulldogs scored 23 points each in the first, second, and third quarters and added 21 in the fourth to seal the 29-point victory. Union outshot the Blazers 58.2 percent to 53.2 percent from the field, 44 percent to 30.8 percent from behind the arc, and 88.2 percent to 46.7 percent from the foul line, while both teams had over 20 turnovers in the contest with Valdosta State committing 26 and Union having 21.
Senior Emily Jones led Union in both rebounds and blocks with six and two, respectively, and senior Jazalyn Anousinh dished out a team-high seven assists. Four seniors had two steals apiece to tie for the most for Union in the game, including Jeremia Montgomery, Dillard, Jones, and Anousinh.
Kiersten Nelson and Mary McMorris each scored 12 points to lead the Blazers, and Aryana Hicks grabbed five boards and had four assists to top those categories.
Up next, the Lady Bulldogs will travel to Nashville, Tenn., to face Trevecca Nazarene University. Tipoff is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m.
