Union advances to conference semifinals following win over West Alabama

Union University women’s basketball team advances to the Gulf South Conference tournament semifinals following a 77-60 win over the University of West Alabama at Fred DeLay Gymnasium, Tuesday.

Top-seeded Union improved to 27-2 overall, while West Alabama ended its season at 11-18.

Union went on a 12-0 run in the first quarter after West Alabama scored the first field goal in the game and never looked back.

Union extended the lead to 18 after Avree Carpenter hit her second 3-pointer early in the second quarter and the Bulldogs led 28-10 with 8:47 remaining.

West Alabama stormed back with a 14-2 run to cut the deficit down to six points for a second time, 30-24, with 3:07 left in the half, but Union’s Emily Beard started a 7-0 run for Union with her first 3-pointer that pushed the lead back to double figures. Union led 37-24 at the half.

Union received balanced scoring in the first half with seven different players scoring. Carpenter and Jada Smith led the way with eight each. Union sot 50 percent from the field and 33 percent (4-12) from long range in the first 20 minutes.

In the third quarter, Union extended its lead to as many as 23 points, 55-32, with 11 seconds left in the quarter, and the Lady Bulldogs were headed for Birmingham and Saturday’s conference semifinals.

Union pushed out to its largest lead of the game, 63-37, with 7:54 left to play. West Alabama did not go away and following an 18-6 run, including three 3-pointers, the Tigers had cut the Union lead down to 69-55. Union got the lead back to 18 points before cruising to the 77-60 final.

Union was led by Smith with 21 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Morgan Martin added 16 points, Beard finished with 13 points, and Jada Perkins scored 12 points. Deja Graves added nine rebounds to share the team lead. Union shot 45 percent from the field, 28 percent (7-25), and 62 percent (18-29) from the free throw line.

West Alabama was led by Field with 14 points and Garrett with 10 points. The Tigers shot 34 percent from the field, 32 percent (7-22), and 79 percent (11-14) from the foul line.

Union dominated the glass 41-31 over UWA, while both teams committed 15 turnovers.

(PHOTO: David Blackstock Court at Fred DeLay Gymnasium)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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