Lady Bulldogs to play in NAIA semifinals tonight

Lavanda Ross and the Lady Bulldogs will play in the NAIA semifinals tonight at 6 p.m. (Photo by Morris Abernathy)

JACKSON, Tenn. – March 21, 2011– The Lady Bulldogs of Union University are two wins away from their third straight NAIA national championship.

Union defeated Westminster (Utah) College 78-61 March 19 to advance to tonight’s NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship semifinal matchup with Shawnee State (Ohio) at 6 p.m. in Jackson’s Oman Arena.

This is the seventh straight semifinal appearance for the Lady Bulldogs (now 34-1 on the season) and the 12th in school history.

Kayla Hudson scored 27 points in the win over Westminster, and her 69 points are a tournament high through three games.

Tickets for tonight’s game will be available at the Oman Arena gate.

The Union men’s team finished the season with a 26-7 record after being eliminated from the NAIA national men’s tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Union’s Stan McNeil was among five players in the tournament recognized for off-the-court contributions. McNeil has participated in Union’s annual Day of Remembrance and volunteers at a local after-school center.

A full story is available from the Kansas City Star.