The Union University women’s basketball team defeated Valdosta State University, 62-47, Thursday.
Union, ranked No. 2 in the WBCA Coaches’ Poll and No. 1 by the D2SIDA Media poll, improved to 6-0 on the season and 1-0 in Gulf South Conference play. Valdosta State, receiving votes in the WBCA poll, dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Playing at Valdosta State, Union took a quick 10-4 lead, but the Lady Blazers answered with a 7-0 run to take a brief 11-10 advantage. Union regained the lead, 14-13 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter the two teams played close until Tiffany Rechis started an 11-0 run for Union with back to back three pointers. Union ended the half up, 30-21.
The Lady Bulldogs kept their lead in the third quarter, extending the gap to 16 points. The largest lead for Union was 61-44 with 3:46 left to play. The final score was 62-47.
Union scored 30 of their points in the paint. The Lady Bulldogs forced 15 turnovers and had 35 rebounds. The Blazers forced 15 turnovers and had 38 rebounds.
The Lady Bulldogs were led by Morgan Martin with 21 points and Jada Smith with 10 points and five assists. Tiffany Rechis led in rebounds with nine. Union shot 45 percent from the field, 38 percent (5-13) from three-point range, and 65 percent (13-20) from the foul line.
Valdosta was led by Kayla Bonilla with 17 points. Sonya Franklin and Crystal Townsend both had 10 points. The Lady Blazers shot 31 percent from the field, nine percent (1-11) from long range, and 47 percent (10-21) from the foul line.
Next up for Union is another Gulf South Conference match-up at West Florida, at 2 p.m., Saturday.
Union men fall at Valdosta State
The Union University men’s basketball team fell 91-80 at No. 6 Valdosta State University, Thursday. Union dropped to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Valdosta State improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in league play.
The first half was a battle between the two teams. The first half featured 13 lead changes and five ties. After a back and forth start, Union was able to take a six point lead, 14-8, following a dunk from Tylandrius Parks. VSU rallied back and led 22-19 with just over 10 minutes left in the half.
Union used the spark of guard Payton Stovall to take a pair of nine-point leads. Stovall’s 3-pointer with 4:08 left in the half put his team up 37-29. Stovall was 5-of-7 from 3-point range in the game.
Two free throws form Stovall on the next possession gave his team the 39-30 lead. The Blazers answered with a 10-0 run to regain the lead. Union did not go away, scoring five of the final seven points of the half to lead 44-42 at the break.
A jumper by Bryson Butler started the second half for Union to go up 46-42. Union kept at least a six point lead until VSU took a 56-55 lead with 14:08 left in the game. The Blazers never trailed again. Union stayed close, trailing by just four points, 66-62 with 10 minutes left. However, back-to-back 3-pointers from the Blazers pushed their lead to double figures for the first time in the game. Union again did not go away, cutting the deficit to six points, 81-75 with just over three minutes left. VSU pushed back ahead, leading by as many as 14 points late, before taking the 91-80 final.
Union was led by Payton Stovall with 23 points and seven rebounds. Samory Gueye added 15 points, while Terrandus Smith scored 12 points. Union shot 53 percent from the field, 38 percent from long range (9-24), and 77 percent (7-13) from the free throw line.
Valdosta was led by Beau Justice with 26 points. Darrell Jones scored 19 points and Clay Guillozet added 17 points. The Blazers shot 50 percent from the field, 39 percent (7-18) from long range, and 77 percent (24-31) from the free throw line.
Up next for Union, the Bulldogs play at the University of West Florida, at 4 p.m., Saturday.
(PHOTO: Jada Perkins, Union Union University – courtesy Kayleigh Patterson, Union University sports information department)
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