UWA Athletics
Kent Partridge
LIVINGSTON – Four Union players scored in double figures and the Lady Bulldogs shot 61 percent in the second half on the way to an 87-68 women’s Gulf South Conference basketball victory over West Alabama Friday at Pruitt Hall Gym.
Union improved to 5-2 with the win and has now defeated UWA, who dropped to 3-2, nine straight times. The Tigers and Lady Bulldogs finish the two-game series Saturday at Pruitt Hall. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
“It was the turnovers that kicked our butt tonight,” UWA head coach Rusty Cram said. “That and they outscored us by 19 points in the third quarter and that was the final margin of victory.”
After taking a 40-39 lead into the half, West Alabama was outscored 27-8 in the third quarter, making just 2-of-12 shots from the floor. Conversely, Union was 9-for-13 in the third period (69 percent).
West Alabama turned the ball over 18 times compared to just eight miscues for Union. The Lady Bulldogs won the points off turnovers battle 23-1 and Union’s bench outscored the Tigers 25-14. The two teams combined for 64 points in the paint.
“We just shot ourselves in the foot in the third quarter and then got mentally down,” Cram said. “Union is a good basketball team that doesn’t make mistakes often. That’s why they play for championships every year.”
Jaelencia Williams led all scorers with 23 points for Union. Shanique Lucas chipped in 17 points, followed by Jordan Little with 12 and Leah Cauble with 11. Sadie Knee dished out a career-high 11 assists and Lucas collected four of Union’s 10 steals.
Bria Dent notched her second double-double of the season for UWA with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Tazsa Garrett-Hammett added 18 points and Naelyn Rios had 11.
Union led for over 28 minutes in a game that was tied nine times and had eight lead changes. West Alabama won the rebounding battle, 37-23.