Box Score

Winona Lake, Ind. – The Union University Lady Bulldogs won the NCCAA National Championship with a 73-64 victory over the Lee University Lady Flames Saturday afternoon. The fourth meeting of the year between the two rivals was still undecided with 1:34 to play and Union clinging to a 63-60 edge.  The Lady Bulldogs finished the game in fine fashion with a 10-4 run to bring home the championship. Union ends the season 25-6, their 31st consecutive season with 20 or more wins. Lee completes their season 25-6.

Union senior guard LaTesa McLaughlin was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. McLaughlin joined Amy Philamlee as all-tournament players. Mark Campbell was named the NCCAA National Coach of the Year.

The first half action was close with four ties and neither team holding more than a four point lead in the first 16 minutes. McLaughlin broke a 28-28 score with a pair of free throws to put Union ahead 30-28 with 3:59 left in the half. Philamlee passed the basketball to an awaiting Chelsea Bodiford, who gave the Lady Bulldogs their largest advantage of the half 37-31 with a 3-point bucket at the 1:28 mark. Union went to halftime up 38-33.

McLaughlin began the second half with a steal and layup for a 40-33 lead. Philamlee increased the score with free throws at 11:51 for a game high 11-point margin 52-41. A 12-6 Lee run reduced the Union advantage to 58-53 with 5:49 to play. Another Philamlee to Bodiford connection for a 3-point basket this time at 5:33 put Union in front 61-53. A jump shot by Myriah Iles with 1:34 remaining resulted in a 63-60 score. The Lady Bulldogs ended the final game of the season on a 10-4 spree in the last 1:08 for a 73-64 win. The final 10 points came off 3-point shots by McLaughlin and Philamlee with the latter sealing the victory from the free throw line hitting all four attempts in the final 20 seconds.  

Philamlee recorded a game high 24 points, highlighted by a 10-for-10 effort from the free-throw line. McLaughlin scored 15 points and Astrid Huttemann 12. The Lady Bulldogs made 24-of-46 (52.2 percent) shots from the field. Union connected on 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) 3-point attempts.

Hollie German led the Lady Flames with 20 points and had a game high six assists. Jenna Adams put in 19 points and grabbed a game high eight rebounds. Rachel Lockhart scored 10 points.

#UNION#