The Union University women’s basketball team has been selected to finish second in the Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
According to a press release, Union earned four first-place votes of the 13 voters and was just six total points behind preseason favorite, Lee.
Union won the GSC Regular Season Title last season for the fifth time since joining the league in 2012-13. Union was upset in the GSC semifinals before advancing to the NCAA D2 National Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years.
This season, Union returns just four players from last year, including one starter, senior Jada Smith.
Smith averaged 15.4 points per game, second on the team last season. Smith was named to the 2019-20 Preseason All-GSC team. She has started all three years, averaging double figures each season.
Juniors Emily Beard and Elli Pratt, and senior Miracle Gray are the other returning players. Beard and Gray both earned one start last season, but Beard played in all 31 of Union’s games, while Gray played in 30 games. Union lost 56.1 points per game of its 77.1 points per game average from last season.
Eight new players join the roster this year for Union. On senior transfer, Caroline Hogue joined Union as a student last spring and will step in immediately as an impact player. She is a former NCAA D2 Region Tournament MVP and was the leading scorer on Harding’s Elite Eight run two years ago.
Two junior transfers, Jaelencia Williams and Jacie Higgins will also add instant production to this Union lineup. Williams is a Division I transfer from Purdue University-Fort Wayne, while Higgins comes to Union from D2 Arkansas Tech University.
Union has no sophomores on the roster, but welcome five freshmen. Patricia Tsafack was with Union last year as a red-shirt player from Cameroon. Shanique Lucas (Papua New Guinea), Sadie Knee (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Kieli Robinson (Paris, Ark.), and Leah Cauble (Oran, Mo.) are each getting their first experience with college basketball.
Union head coach Mark Campbell said, “This year’s team has exceeded all expectations thus far. Our care for one another and our character has been evident. We have eight new players and they are continuing to learn our system. Once they understand, I believe this group will be a lot of fun to watch play. We have all the necessary gifts to be a great team come February and March. I am most excited about the opportunity this group has to become one!”
Union opens its schedule with a pair of exhibitions. First at NCAA D1 Oregon State, October 27 and then at home for Homecoming, November 2 versus Martin Methodist. The season opens in Cleveland, Miss. at the South Region Crossover where Union will face Nova Southeastern, the team that ended Union’s season last year, and Barry, November 8-9. Union’s first official home game is Thursday, November 14 versus Rust. Union opens GSC play at home with West Florida, Saturday, November 23.
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