No. 1 Union uses near shutout in third quarter to top Eckerd, advances to region title game
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women’s basketball team defeated Eckerd College 73-48 in the second round of the 2022 NCAA D2 National Championships, South Region. Top-seeded Union and nations No. 1 team improved to 28-2 overall, while Eckerd ended its season at 21-5.
With the win, Union advances to the region title game, the sweet sixteen, Monday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at Union’s Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union will face Gulf South Conference foe, the 7-seed Valdosta State. (WATCH)
The semifinal win also marked Union 25th straight win on the season, and 21st straight win at home.
Union head coach Mark Campbell said, “It was a tough game. In the first half, we struggled with the way they were defending. I knew playing Paul’s (Honsinger) team, they were going to be disciplined, and it was tough. I thought we defended well most of the night, especially in the third and early fourth quarters blocking out. We also shot well from 3-point range.”
In the game, Union and Eckerd played a close first half with Union leading 31-28 at halftime. Union led 17-14 after one and both teams scored 14 points each in the second quarter.
However, the third quarter was the different in the game. Union scored 23 points in the third quarter, but the eye-popping number was the fact Union allowed just one point for Eckerd in the quarter. Eckerd was 0-of-16 from the field in the third quarter and was just 1-of-2 from the foul line in that time.
Meanwhile, Union, improving its shooting percentage each quarter of the game, shot 55 percent from the field and 50 percent (3-6) from 3-point range in the third quarter. Union led 54-29 at the end of three quarters.
Union kept up the hot shooting with 58 percent in the fourth quarter and 83 percent (5-6) from long range. A 3-pointer from Emily Beard Dunnagan with 4:07 left gave Union its largest lead of the night at 30 points, 70-40.
Eckerd cut into Union’s lead late, matching the Lady Bulldogs at 19-19 in the fourth quarter, but it was much too late.
Union was led by Jaelencia Williams with 20 points and nine rebounds. Shanique Lucas added 14 points. Ashtyn Baker and Dunnagan added nine points each on three 3-pointers each. Bethany Dillard scored seven and Samariah Thompson added six. Union finished the game, 45 percent from the field, 50 percent (13-26) from 3-point range, and 86 percent (12-14) from the foul line.
Eckerd was led by Maya Price with 10 points and Hannah Wentworth with nine points. The Tritons shot 28 percent from the field, 15 percent (5-33) from long range, and 86 percent (7-8) from the free throw line.
Big second half lifts Union men over Miles, 65-50, to open national tournament
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Union University men’s basketball team posted a 65-50 win over Miles College in the first round of the NCAA D2 National Championships, South Region. Union, seeded fourth, improved to 24-8 on the season, while fifth seed Miles ended its season at 24-5.
With the win, Union advanced to the second round of the NCAA D2 National Tournament for the second time in head coach David Niven’s career (2015) and third in program history.
Union will face the host team and nation’s No. 1 ranked team in division II, Nova Southeastern, Sunday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. central time. (WATCH)
Union led 25-23 at the half in a very defensive first 20 minutes. Coach Niven called Miles, who allows just over 50 points per game, “a very, very good defensive team”.
However, in the second half, Union’s offensive came alive while also keeping a tight defensive grip on Miles. Union scored the first 12 points of the second half to push its lead to 37-23 with 14:20 left to play. Miles got a free throw at the 14:05 mark and finally got its first second half field goal with 12:01 left to play. By that time, Union had pushed its lead to the largest lead of the night, 18 points, 42-24.
During the run, Tyree Boykin’s 3-pointer gave Union its first double-digit lead of the night. then a personal 5-0 run by Boe Nguidjol with a couple free throws and a 3-pointer. the run was capped by layup from Tylandrius Parks, giving Union its 18-point lead.
Union’s lead for the rest of the game stayed in double figures. Union came away with the 15-point win.
In the first half, Union scored first on a basket from Boykin. The game was tied three times in the first half, but Union never trailed. Union led by as many as six in the first half on two occasions, the final time coming 23-17 with 3:48 left following a 3-pointer from Boykin.
Union was led by Boykin and Jeremiah Littlepage with 17 points each. Tylandrius Parks added 16 points. Nguidjol scored nine points with a team-high eight rebounds. Union shot 44 percent from the field, 29 percent (5-17) from 3-point range, and 86 percent (18-21) from the free throw line.
Miles was led by Brandon Miller with 15 points and Yasim Hooker with 13 points. The Bears shot 30 percent from the field, 30 percent (6-20) from long range, and 59 percent (10-17) from the free throw line.
