JACKSON, Tenn. – No. 8/16 Union University takes down the University of Tennessee Southern by a final score of 109-55. Union improves to 11-1 overall (5-1 GSC). This matchup for UT Southern counted as an exhibition game.
Union’s starters for the game: Shanique Lucas, Courtney Zensen, Olivia Lee, Jazalyn Anousinh, Macey Lee
The Lady Bulldogs opened the game on a 9-0 run, every point coming in the paint. UT Southern answered back with a 10-2 run, playing through their leading scorer on the season, Kassidy Broussard. Freshman Courtney Zensen hit the Lady Bulldog’s first triple of the game, ending a 0-5 stretch from beyond the arc to start the game. Shylee Morrison and Leah Cauble followed up the triple with two threes in the corners. Olivia Lee and Shanique Lucas continued the hot three-point shooting, aiding Union to a 19-4 run to end the first period.
Morrison started the second period off with her second three-pointer of the game and offensive put-back, stretching Union’s lead to 17 points. The Lady Bulldogs completed a 41-12 run to extend their lead to 40 points to end the half. UT Southern’s offense struggled to move the ball effectively in the face of the Lady Bulldog’s full-court press, going scoreless for over three minutes of action and committing 20 turnovers in just 20 minutes.
Shanique Lucas led all scorers at the end of the first half with 11 points. Lucas and Cauble shared the team-high in rebounds with four each. Jazalyn Anousinh continued her work as a distributor, recording five assists in the first half. Kieli Robinson was able to come up with a team-high three steals.
Union shot 54.5% as a team from the field (46.4 3-PT %) and was perfect from the charity stripe (5-5). Union out-rebounded UT Southern 24-18, assists 20-9, and steals 11-5. Union had 8 players with at least seven points going into the break. Ten of the 11 players that touched the court recorded at least one rebound. Seven different players recorded at least one assist and one steal.
The Lady Bulldog’s dominance continued in the third period, increasing their lead to 52 points to end the period (92-40). Four Union scorers reached double-digits in points before the beginning of the fourth period.
In the final period of play, Union reached the 100-point mark for the seventh time this season. The most 100-point games Union has recorded in a season is nine (1974-’75) Union ended the game with six players in double-digit scoring.
Zensen led all scorers with 18 points, all coming off of three-pointers. Olivia Lee (17), Shanique Lucas (16), Lauren West (12), Leah Cauble (11), and Brooke Hampel (10) all scored in doubledigits. Olivia Lee paced the Lady Bulldogs in rebounds with six. Anousinh recorded a team-high 9 assists, one shy of her season-high. Shanique Lucas, who was second in steals in the conference to begin play, added five more steals versus UT Southern.
The Lady Bulldogs are back in action on December 31st in Montevallo, Alabama. The game will begin at 2:00 p.m.
