Posted by Jay Stancil - Wed, Feb 11, 2009 - [ Women's Basketball ] - Viewed 332 times

ATHENS, Tenn. - Juniors Brooke Smith and Ashley Lunsford each recorded a double-double in helping Union College to a 70-63 Appalachian Athletic Conference victory at Tennessee Wesleyan College Wednesday.

The win keeps the Lady Bulldogs in first place as they are now 19-8 overall and 11-4 in conference play. Meanwhile, Tennessee Wesleyan dropped to 18-9 overall and 10-5 in league action.

Smith posted her third double-double in a row and seventh of the season with a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds. Smith also made 10-of-11 free throws. Lunsford chipped in 19 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the year.

Union raced to a 17-9 lead by the 13:00 mark. However, Tennessee Wesleyan battled back and tied the game at 22-22 following an Amy Jo Castor 3-pointer with 5:51 remaining.

The lead changed hands a number of times down the stretch, but Union was able to take a 38-37 lead into the half.

The score was tight for much of the second half with neither team leading by more than three. Up 61-60 with 1:53 remaining, Union reeled off five straight points to open up a 66-60 lead. Ashton Burrell buried a 3-pointer to pull Tennessee Wesleyan within 66-63 with 50 seconds left.

Susanna Todd (Eubank, Ky.) and Smith each hit a pair of free throws doing the closing moments to seal the 70-63 victory.

In addition to posting a double-double, Smith blocked four shots while Lunsford blocked two.

Union dominated the glass, outrebounding Tennessee Wesleyan 37-24. Also, Union held its own at the foul line, making 23-of-27 free throws (85.2 percent). Tennessee Wesleyan though made only 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from the line.

The Lady Bulldogs also connected on 46.7 percent (21-of-45 shots) shots from the field, but Tennessee Wesleyan made 42.6 percent (26-of-61) of its shots.

Casha Foster paced Tennessee Wesleyan with 17 points, while Mindy Cox-Hodge and Rachel Sitzlar added 16 and 10 points, respectively.

Union returns home Saturday to play host to Covenant (Ga.) College at 4 p.m.

Lady Bulldog Notes

  • Brooke Smith surpassed the 1,900-point mark as she now has 1,913 career points.
  • Union improved to 9-1 in games played on Wednesday.
  • The 23 free throws made is a season high for Union.
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