March 21, 2006

JACKSON, Tenn. - Second-seeded Union University (Tenn.) posted a strong first half to hold off a late run by second-seeded The Master's College (Calif.) with a 62-51 victory to advance to the championship game of the 26th annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship at the Oman Arena.

The Lady Bulldogs took a 40-14 halftime lead into their locker room, but the Master's of Miracles team that pulled off last second victories in their last two games built a 19 minute comeback that put them within two possessions with a minute to play.

In the first half, Union shot 47 percent from the field to jump out to a 20-2 lead to start the game, then grow it to as many as 38-11 for their largest lead of the game at 27 points with 1:17 to play in the half. The Lady Bulldogs held the Lady Mustangs to 19 percent shooting the first period (5-of-27).

With 13:45 remaining in the game, Union led by 25 points, 50-25, but the persistent Lady Mustangs fought back over the next 12 minutes to out score the Lady Bulldogs 24-5 and cut the lead to six, 55-49, with 1:39 left to play.

After Kinsley Mittel cut the lead to two possessions with a pair of free throws, Union's Ena Daniels missed a layup, giving the ball back to The Master's with the chance to pull closer with a minute to play. However Daniels was not going to let her career end there, as she came back down the floor to block Angela Gimeno's shot and create a Master's turnover, forcing the Lady Mustangs to foul.

Crystal Eason sank 4-of-4 from the free throw line to help Union seal the game in the final seconds, while Daniels helped take the game over with 90 seconds of all-out hustle, scoring three points, grabbing three rebounds, blocking two shots and swiping two steals.

Union was led by freshman Josephine Owino's double-double 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Eason added 10 points. The Lady Bulldogs finished the game shooting 36 percent from the field and just 25 percent (5-20) from behind the arc.

Master's was led by Mittel's 18 points, followed by Gimeno's 12. Courtney Jackson added 12 rebounds in the game. The Master's were held to 32 percent from the field and 33 percent (2-6) from behind the arc.

Union improves to 30-6 on the season for their sixth straight 30 win season and ninth-consecutive victory in the NAIA National Tournament after winning the title last March. The Lady Bulldogs advance to their fifth title game Tuesday at 6 p.m. to meet sixth-seeded Lubbock Christian University.