JACKSON, Tenn. - Union (Tenn.) University was the only No. 1 seed to advance to the quarterfinals, defeating No. 4-seeded The Master's (Calif.) College, 95-78, in the second round of the 28^th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.

 

Freshman guard Kayla Hudson finished two rebounds short of a triple-double, scoring a game-high 23 points to go with a game-high 11 assists and eight rebounds to lead the Bulldogs into the quarterfinals for the 15^th time in the program's 19 national tournament appearances. She got the Bulldogs rolling to a 15-0 run to start the game, coming up with a steal on defense and knocking down one of her five three-pointers at the other end just over a minute into the game.

 

The Master's responded with an 11-2 run, cutting the margin to 17-11 with 12:52 to play, and sophomore forward Jenna Reed's three-pointer with 8:42 left in the first half pulled the Mustangs to within 27-20. Union went on a 16-4 run over the next seven minutes to take a 43-24 lead with 1:36 to play before settling for a 17-point halftime advantage at 45-28.

 

The teams combined for 100 second-half points, scoring 50 apiece, but another Hudson trey with 9:01 left in the game gave Union a 68-57 lead, and the Bulldogs led by double digits the rest of the way. Union shot 51 percent from the field (31-for-61), including 48 percent (11-for-23) from three-point range. Hudson was seven-for-10 on the game, sinking five-of-six three-point attempts. The Bulldogs also finished with a 48-30 rebounding advantage.

 

Union had four players in double figures, with junior center Josephine Owino and sophomore guard Kaitlin Dudley chipping in with 19 points and nine rebounds each. Owino also had a game-high four blocks, and senior guard Crystal Eason contributed 17 points and four assists for the Bulldogs.

 

The Master's had five in double figures, led by junior forward Stacy Nanninga's team-high 18 points. Junior guard Jennifer Ayers-Stamper scored 15 points, and freshman guard Erica Inge and junior guard Amanda DuRocher each finished with 12 points for the Mustangs. Sophomore guard Annie Gillespie was one of three Mustangs who shared a team-high in rebounds with five, and she tallied 11 points, as well.

 

Union remains unbeaten through 34 games, and the Bulldogs have won 55 of their past 57 games. In national tournament play, Union has won 15 of its past 16 games. The Master's is eliminated from the national tournament by Union for the third consecutive season, and the Mustangs finish the season with a 21-12 overall record.

 

NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.