March 19, 2006

JACKSON, Tenn. - Second-seeded Union University (Tenn.) defeated top-seeded Oklahoma City University 78-64 on Saturday night to earn the fourth and final spot in the 26th annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship Fab Four at Oman Arena.

In a rematch of the 2005 NAIA National Championship game that Union won 67-63, the Lady Bulldogs tied the NAIA National Tournament record with 14 made 3-pointers in the game. Union's Merideth Richardson led the way with 8-of-12 shooting from behind the arc, including 7-of-9 in the first half. Richardson made 18 3-pointers in last year's tournament, one behind the national tournament record is 19, and she currently leads the tournament with 12.

Union led Oklahoma City 39-35 at halftime with Richardson and Oklahoma City's Mariam Sy leading both teams in double figures at the break, as Richardson had 21 of Union's 39 points while Sy posted 22 of the Stars' 35 points.

Oklahoma City rallied to open the second half to take a brief lead, 50-48, with 11 minutes to play. In the midst of the comeback, Sy, the tournaments' leading scorer, went down with an injury with 15 minutes left and did not return. Union quickly regained the lead on a 3-point basket by Tiffany Fisher to start a 23-5 run to grow to their largest lead of 16 points, 71-55, with 3:48 remaining. The closest Oklahoma City came was cutting the lead to 10 points on a 3-pointer with 2:17 to play.

Richardson's 27 points in the game led Union. Jennifer Henson and Natanya Smith added 11 points each, while Ena Daniels scored 10 points, eight in the second half. Union shot 45 percent from the field and 54 percent (14-of-26) from behind the arc. They were 80 percent from the free throw line.

Oklahoma City was led by Sy's 22 points, all in the first half, and 10 rebounds. Alexandra Kotta added 14 points for the Stars. Oklahoma City shot 43 percent from the field including 24 percent (5-21) from behind the arc. The Stars shot 73 percent (11-15) from the charity stripe.

The winner of the last two meetings between Union and Oklahoma City in the NAIA National Tournament has gone on to win the title, with OCU capturing it 2002 and Union in 2005.

Union improves to 29-6 on the season and advances to play The Master's College (Calif.) on Monday night at 8 p.m.

The game with The Master's will be the second straight rematch game for Union and The Master's in the tournament, as Union defeated The Master's 79-67 on November 18 at the Jackson Rotary Classic.

The OCU loss ends their seven year streak of making the championship game.