Union advances to GSC title game

3/4/2016 3:40:36 PM

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tiara Caldwell posted a double-double 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead top-seed Union past fifth-seed Lee, 69-50, Friday in the 2015-16 VisitSpaceCoast.com Gulf South Conference semifinals. The defending GSC Tournament champion Lady Bulldogs await the winner of Delta State and Shorter for the championship game Saturday.

BY THE NUMBERS

Teams	1	2	3	4	Total
Lee (20-10)	10	16	14	10	50
Union (28-2)	15	19	18	17	69

Game Leaders	Union	Lee
Points	Tiara Caldwell\| 20 Jada Smith \| 19 Kelsey Risner \| 11	Erin Walsh \| 17
Rebounds	Tiara Caldwell \| 13 Kelsey Risner \| 10	Christina Johnson \| 11
Assists	Alex Smith \| 5	Jordan Neuharth \| 5

KEY MOMENTS
Union used a 9-0 run in the first half to create its first distance of the game with a 19-10 lead. Erin Walsh ended the run with her second 3-pointer of the game, sparking a 10-0 run give Lee a 20-19 lead on a Carrie Cheeks layup. Union countered with another run, 8-0, moments later to take its first double-digit lead, 34-24, after Tiara Caldwell pulled down two offensive boards, scoring on the second. Union shot 50 percent from the 3-point arc and floor overall in the second half and held Lee to 24.2 percent shooting en route to the win.

QUOTABLE
“It’s difficult for me to play against (Lee head coach) Marty (Rowe) as many times as we’ve played against them, because I have so much respect for him, his kids and how they play. I really felt tonight was a culmination of us getting better defensively. I thought we got quality shots. I thought our post play was great, and for the most part we handled the ball. There were a couple of sections I didn’t like at all. Christina Johnson is one of the best offensive rebounders we play against, and she did it again. I’m just proud of the girls’ efforts because Lee has a tendency to get down, make runs and continue to do that, but we just allowed one run, and from that point on, I felt we were pretty solid.” – Mark Campbell, Union head coach

NOTABLE
-Union advances to the GSC Championship final for the second consecutive season in its second year as a full conference member.
- The Lady Bulldogs are in pursuit of their 24^th conference tournament title at the NAIA and DII level.
- Union extended its win streak to 17 games, its longest win streak since 2012, its final season in the NAIA.
- Tiara Caldwell posted her team-leading fifth 20-point game of the season and seventh double-double.
- Union senior Kesley Risner led Union with 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season and eclipsed the 800 rebound career mark. She now has 805.
- Lee sophomore Erin Walsh finishes her sophomore season with 972 career points. (14).
- Walsh’s performance gives her more than 950 points in her two seasons at Lee.
- Union leads the all-time series, 26-5.

UP NEXT
Union will now meet the winner of Delta State and Shorter in the 2015-16 VisitSpaceCoast.com GSC Championship title game Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m. CT.