JACKSON, Tenn. — March 11, 2009 — For the first time since 2002, both the Union Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball teams are the TranSouth Conference Tournament champions.
The Bulldogs, behind 35 points from senior guard Matt Neaville, cruised to a 105-78 win over Freed-Hardeman University March 10 in the title game. The title for Union is their sixth TranSouth championship in the 13-year history of the league. Union used a 57-point first half to take a 24-point halftime lead.
Union, ranked sixth in the NAIA, improves to 28-5 on the season.
The Lady Bulldogs earned their third straight conference tournament championship and 10th title in the 13-year history of the league with a 92-69 win over Trevecca Nazarene University March 9. Josephine Owino scored 24 points and Kaitlin Dudley added 23 to lead Union, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA with a 32-1 record.
Both wins came in Union鈥檚 Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Both teams were also the regular-season conference champions.
Up next for both teams will be the NAIA national tournaments March 18-24. The men鈥檚 tournament will be played in Kansas City, Mo., while the women鈥檚 event will take place at Oman Arena in Jackson.
Brackets for the tournament will be released March 12.