Verdugo named Golfer of the Week by GSC

JACKSON, Tenn. – Brooklyn Verdugo (photo) of the Union University women’s golf team has been named Golfer of the Week by the Gulf South Conference for her performance at the Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate. This is Verdugo’s second career Golfer of the Week honor.

Verdugo, a native of La Habra, Calif., paced the way for the Lady Bulldogs to finish T-4 with a team score of +72. Verdugo shot 78-72-72 in her three rounds for a final score of 222. The sophomore managed to birdie 10 times in the event. Verdugo also beat all competition in Par 5 play, averaging score of 4.42.

Up next for Verdugo and the Lady Bulldogs is a road trip to Cabot, Ark. to compete in the Natural State Golf Classic at Cypress Creek Golf Club. This event will take place on Feb. 26-27.

Lucas records season high 32 points in thrilling overtime win

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.

Littlepage records double-double in heartbreaking loss

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men’s basketball team drop home game to Auburn University at Montgomery 79-78. The Bulldogs are now 11-12 overall (8-11 GSC), while the Warhawks are 10-14 overall (6-13 GSC).

Union ended the first half out-scoring Auburn Montgomery 35-30 despite turning the ball over ten times. Union led by as many as 10 points in the half. The Bulldogs shot 44% from the floor including 38.5% from three-point range. Union out-rebounded the AUM 21-16.

At the half, Ahmad Johnson led all scorers with 14 points off of 5-9 shooting (2-4 3 PT). Johnson also shared a lead for the team-high in rebounds with five. Jeremiah Littlepage led the Bulldogs in assists with three and blocks with two. Eight different Bulldogs recorded at least a point in the first half.

Union stretched their lead to 14 points with a 7-0 run featuring Devaki Garr’s second three-pointer of the game. The Bulldogs led 46-32 with 16 minutes remaining in the game. Union held a 10-point lead for the next six minutes of action. Up to this point, two Bulldogs were in double-digit scoring.

Jordan Pyke picked up a key block with eight minutes remaining in the game, silencing the Warhawk’s opportunity to cut into the Union lead. With five minutes remaining, AUM pulled within 10 points, bringing the score to 70-62. Jeremiah Littlepage hit on a mid-range jumper to pad the Bulldog lead.

Auburn Montgomery pulled back within 10 with a Joseph Lanzi floater, 72-64 Bulldogs. Jalil Robinson and Jalen Gaston then brought the Warhawks within four with back-to-back layups. Lanzi finished the 9-0 AUM run with an up-court dish to Jalil Robinson. Union held a one-point lead with just over two minutes remaining.

Auburn Montgomery took their first lead since the 15-minute mark in the first half with a Malachi Rhodes layup. Trailing by one, Jeremiah Littlepage fought through contact to score under the basket and draw the whistle. After hitting on the and-one opportunity, AUM tied the game back up at 77. With four seconds remaining, Layne Sarver drew a foul beyond the arc and converted on one of three opportunities at the charity stripe.

Jalil Robinson hit a layup at the buzzer to defeat the Bulldogs 79-78 and overcome a late double-digit lead.

Ahmad Johnson led all Bulldogs in scoring with 25 points. Jeremiah Littlepage recorded a double-double, recording 16 points and 11 assists.

Up next, the Bulldogs will play the University of Montevallo. The game will take place on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4:00 p.m.

Softball weekend series adjusted

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University softball series with the University of West Alabama has been adjusted.

On Saturday, Feb. 17 the Lady Bulldogs will play one game versus West Alabama that will start at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 has been turned into a double-header that will begin at 1:00 p.m.

Visit uuathletics.com for additional scheduling information. General admission this weekend is free courtesy of FirstBank.