Jackson, Tenn. - Houston Baptist University's run through the NAIA Tournament came to an end in the quarterfinals at the hands of fifth-ranked and top-seeded Union University Saturday at Oman Arena, as the Huskies fell 83-58. The two-time defending NAIA champs used a huge run over a six-minute span of the first half to take a double-digit lead and never relinquished it to put an end to HBU's season.
HBU came out firing as it took a 5-0 lead in the first two minutes after a basket by Velencia Kuykendall and a three by Jacqueline Overby, but Union broke out of their early shooting slump and took a 9-8 lead on a Kaitlin Dudley bucket with 13:42 left in the opening stanza capping a 7-1 run.
The two teams went back-and-forth over the next three minutes with HBU taking a 14-12 lead on a Dominique Thomas bucket with 11:29 remaining in the first frame. Union answered with an 18-2 run to open up a 30-16 lead on a bucket by Josephine Owino with 5:25 left in the first half.
The Huskies closed within 10 on a three by Thomas one minute later, but Union upped the lead to 18, 42-24, on a jumper by Owino with 1:23 left in the half. Four free throws by Kuykendall and a jumper by Thomas at the buzzer closed the gap to 42-30 at the half.
Union started the second half with a quick 7-0 run to take a 19-point lead on a Natanya Smith basket two minutes in. The Huskies tried to answer, scoring six straight points capped by two free throws by Thomas with 15:03 left. The Bulldogs wouldn't let HBU get any closer than 13 the rest of the way.
Kuykendall led all players with 21 points and 13 rebounds in her final game as a Husky. She ends a stellar career as one of just three players in school history with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Thomas added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Overby finished with three more treys and nine points.
After their quick start, HBU finished shooting an ice-cold 28 percent from the floor, while Union was blazing from the floor, connecting on 55 percent from the field, including 39 percent from behind the arc. The Huskies connected on 17-of-20 from the charity stripe.
The Bulldogs also got a huge lift from the bench that scored 37 points led by Owino's 18 points and 8 rebounds. Crystal Eason and Dudley each added 12 points for the Bulldogs.
Houston Baptist ends the season 27-7 after winning its eighth consecutive RRAC Tournament title. The Huskies lose four seniors from this year's team: Kuykendall, Danica King, Jessica Brantley and Jasmine Irving.
