JACKSON, Tenn. – The Lee University Women's Basketball team posted one of its biggest wins since joining NCAA Division II with a 56-51 upset of No. 1 Union University Thursday evening at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. The Lady Flames improved to 10-3 overall and 4-1 in Gulf South Conference play. Union tasted defeat for the first time and are now 12-1, including a 4-1 mark within the conference.
Lee held a slim 16-15 lead after the opening before outscoring their hosts 16-9 over the next 10 minutes to carry a 32-24 advantage into the halftime break. Union cut the Lee lead to two with an 18-12 scoring margin in the third period. The Lady Flames rebuilt an eight-point lead with 4:27 remaining in the game. Union pulled within two with just over one minute on the clock, but they were unable to get any closer.
Kayla Tillie led the Lee offense with a game-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Abby Bertram added nine points and three rebounds, while Lindsey Roddy tallied eight markers and six boards. The duo shared the team lead with two assists each.
Becca Cheeks supplied eight points and six rebounds to the cause. Anna Woodford tallied five points and grabbed six rebounds. Nicky Widenski and Haley Schubert contributed four points apiece and Taylor Boggess canned a three-pointer. Widenski had two blocked shots to go along with five rebounds. Schubert led the Lady Flames with two steals.
"We are obviously excited about the win but honestly I'm just proud of how we competed on both ends tonight," said Lee head coach Marty Rowe. "We had multiple people step up in big spots tonight and that's a great sign for this team."
Union had three players finish in double-figures in scoring. Jada Smith led the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points. Kennedy Childers scored 12 and Morgan Martin added 11 points. Smith and Martin were the team leaders with seven rebounds. Jada Perkins led the Union offense with five assists with Smith right behind with four dimes.
The Lady Flames won the battle of the boards 40-35 and turned 10 offensive rebounds into five second-chance points. Union posted five second-chance points off seven offensive rebounds.
Lee made 21-of-60 (.350) overall and were 7-for-21 (.333) from distance. Union was 20-for-56 (.357) from the floor and were just 3-of-20 (.150) from behind the arc. Lee converted 7-of-10 (.700) free throw attempts, while Union was 8-for-17 (.471) at the charity stripe.
The Lady Flames remain on the road with another GSC contest on Saturday. Lee challenges Christian Brothers University at 2 p.m. EST in Memphis. "I'm looking forward to Saturday and seeing if we can keep taking steps forward," concluded Rowe.
