On Thursday, Jan. 30, Union University’s women’s basketball team commanded a 98-55 victory over Christian Brothers University at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. This win improved the Lady Bulldogs to 18-3 overall and 13-1 in conference play, securing their top spot in the Gulf South Conference standings.
Their success hasn’t been without its challenges. Known for routinely winning by large margins, this year’s team entered Thursday’s game coming off a narrow 71-67 victory at Delta State. The closer-than-expected match at Delta State raised questions about whether Union’s new lineup could maintain the program’s elite reputation. With a winning percentage of .850, they continue as one of the most successful teams in the conference.
Many of those questions were answered Thursday night against Christian Brothers. The Lady Bulldogs opened with a fast attack, scoring 28 points in the first quarter, but followed closely by Christian Brothers trailing at 23 points. Union’s offense and defensive pressure quickly extended that difference.
Leading was Emily Jones, a senior business major, who delivered 19 points – her 10th double-digit scoring performance of the season. By halftime, Union had surged ahead 58-31, capitalizing on turnovers and shutting down the Christian Brother’s offense. The Lady Bulldogs’ dominance stretched into the second half, with a 30-point second quarter followed by a 28-point third quarter.
Alexis Callins, a graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Business, strengthened Union’s offensive tempo, contributing 17 points. Olivia Lee, a sophomore guard and undecided major, recorded her first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Lee leads the season with an overall total of 246 points. Bethany Dillard, a senior nursing major, rounded out a balanced attack adding 11 points.
Callins emphasized how this win reflected the new team’s growing chemistry.
“I think that this week was really big for us,” Callins said. “We’ve had a couple of disappointing weeks, and to come out together and it was evident how much we played together and how hard we were playing. That was our focus this week. To come out and play like that — it’s just very rewarding.”
The Lady Bulldogs’ cohesion on the court has been a work in progress. With several new additions to the lineup, learning dynamics and tendencies has been a challenge, but Callins believes they are finding rhythm at the right time.
“Really, the biggest trial is just learning each other and how each other plays and playing together,” Callins said. “I feel like with every new team, that’s the biggest obstacle and first thing to overcome. But we’re getting a really good flow right now, and so it’s looking good.”
While Union’s win over Christian Brothers may have been expected, the Lady Bulldogs’ ability to respond well after a tight match at Delta State has affirmed their resilience despite adversity and shifting dynamics.
Aryn Roberts, freshman guard, and undecided major, spoke proudly of her team and believes the adversity could be an asset.
“I’m extremely proud of the team. I’m extremely proud of the work we continue to put in behind the scenes to continue to grow,” Roberts said. “I think we’ve hit a lot of adversity. I think it’s easy to like each other, love each other when things are going well, but lately, we’ve been hitting adversity, which only helps us to grow. It’s only opportunities to grow, so we’re working on that every day in practice. Hopefully, it will show up in the games.”
The Lady Bulldogs will play their next game at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6 against the University of Montevallo.