JACKSON, Tenn. – The Christian Brothers women's basketball team (0-19, 0-14 GSC) came out firing in the opening quarter but was unable to sustain the momentum, falling 98-55 to nationally-ranked No. 18 Union (18-13, 13-1 GSC) on Thursday evening at Fred DeLay Gymnasium.
First Quarter – Fast Start for the Lady Bucs
Christian Brothers put together an aggressive first quarter, attacking Union's defense with efficient shooting. The Lady Buccaneers shot 50 percent from the field (9-of-18) and 50 percent from beyond the arc (3-of-6).
Jada Hood was instrumental in the early surge, connecting on a deep three-pointer at the 6:49 mark to cut Union's lead to 13-9. Shortly after, Hood found Lamonnie Owens on the wing for another three, bringing the score to 16-14 with 5:51 remaining.
Christian Brothers briefly held a 4-3 lead after
Valencia McFall's layup off an assist from Hood at the 8:56 mark. However, Union responded with a flurry of three-pointers, sinking five on 16 attempts in the opening quarter. Despite this, the Lady Buccaneers kept it close, finishing the first quarter down just 28-23.
Second Quarter – Union Pulls Away
The Lady Buccaneers struggled to maintain their hot shooting in the second quarter, managing just 5-of-13 from the field (38.5%) while going 1-for-4 from deep. Hood continued to provide a spark, drilling a three-pointer off a turnover at the 8:29 mark to trim the deficit to 33-28.
However, Union turned up the defensive pressure, forcing multiple turnovers and capitalizing in transition. Christian Brothers allowed a 9-0 run that stretched the deficit to double digits at 42-28 with 5:56 remaining.
SeQuoia Carroll provided a brief momentum shift with a layup at the 5:38 mark, but Union continued its relentless attack, outscoring Christian Brothers 30-11 in the quarter. At halftime, the Lady Buccaneers trailed 58-34.
Third Quarter – Defensive Struggles Continue
Union's full-court pressure continued to disrupt Christian Brothers' offensive rhythm, leading to another lopsided quarter. The Lady Buccaneers shot just 23.5 percent from the field (4-of-17) and 20 percent from three (1-of-5).
Hood remained a bright spot, sinking a three-pointer at the 3:02 mark to bring the score to 75-41. McFall also chipped in with a mid-range jumper early in the period, but Union's transition offense proved overwhelming. The Lady Bulldogs used a 12-0 run midway through the quarter to put the game further out of reach.
Fourth Quarter – A Late Surge
Despite the large deficit, Christian Brothers kept battling in the final frame. Owens knocked down a tough mid-range jumper at the 4:55 mark, and Carroll added a second-chance layup moments later.
The Lady Buccaneers also put together their best scoring run of the game late in the fourth, an 11-0 stretch that provided a much-needed boost in the final minutes. Owens capped off the run with a driving layup at the 2:35 mark, giving Christian Brothers a small victory in an otherwise tough contest.
Union, however, had built an insurmountable lead, and despite the late push, the Lady Buccaneers fell by a final score of 98-55.
Key Performers
Looking Ahead
The Lady Bucs will return to action next Thursday, Feb. 6 when they host Auburn Montgomery. The week-long break will allow CBU to regroup before heading into the final stretch of the season.
