Both of Union’s basketball teams traveled to Lee University on Thursday, Feb. 21, each receiving a tough loss late in the season approaching tournament play.
The Lady Bulldogs saw the end of a 13 game winning streak and their second loss of the season with the previous also coming at the hands of Lee. Despite the two losses to the Lady Flames, Union is still in a position to secure the regular season conference championship.
Second chance opportunities and a strong bench performance from Lee were too much for Union to overcome. The Lady Bulldogs had a 56-54 lead with five minutes left in the fourth, but did not have enough offensive output to build on the lead, largely due to a dry night from the three point line.
“This game, we didn’t hone in on the scouting report and came out slow in the beginning of the game, and they made some big shots down the stretch,” said junior guard Miracle Gray after the game.
She then went on the say that the team just has to find a way to grow from the loss and adjust going forward.
The men’s team fell victim to Lee’s efficient offense, with the Flames shooting 58% from the field and 50% from three. Despite another strong performance from Union’s Terrandus Smith, Lee held control from start to finish.
“We didn’t play well,” Smith said after the game. “We were not great offensively or defensively. What we should focus on right now is preparing ourselves for the next game better than we prepared for this one. It’s about to be tournament time and we can’t play the way we just did.”
Redshirt freshman Payton Stovall said that the game “definitely could’ve went better,” but went on to say that the team just has to correct their mistakes and focus on what is ahead. He closed by keeping an optimistic perspective.
“I love this team and coaches and know the sky is the limit if we play at the level we’re capable of,” Stovall said.
Both teams will close out the regular season at home this Thursday against Christian Brothers.