Box Score / Event Stats

Lady Blazers Fall Short

Tale of Two Halves makes for 59-55 loss for VSU

AMERICUS, Ga. - Valdosta State came out strong throughout the first half, but could not get past the Georgia Southwestern press defense in the second half. The Hurricanes moved to 3-2 on the year with a 59-55 win over the Lady Blazers to drop Valdosta State to 2-4 on the season.

The good news for Valdosta State started with Alli Jones' 16 points and six rebounds in her first start of the season and ended with a double-double from Brittany Daniels. Daniels finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tamika Booker brought down nine rebounds and Leschelle Matthews notched six assists and four steals. Michelle Thompson contributed 10 points and five boards.

Four Hurricane starters scored double figures with nine from the fifth starter. Whitley Wiltz went for 11 points and 14 rebounds. Jessica Bivins and Terra Branch each scored 12 points while Brittany Reynolds had 11 point and eight boards.

It was a tale of two halves. Valdosta State's halftime lead of 33-22 would not be enough to clinch the game. Georgia Southwestern stormed back with 37 points and 28 rebounds in the second half. The Lady Blazers dominated the boards in the first half, 26-18, but Georgia Southwestern came back in the second half to gain the edge, 46-44.

Valdosta State used a nifty play to start the game that led to Matthews finding a streaking Thompson for an open lay-up. Thompson followed that play by drawing a charge on the ensuing possession.

The Lady Blazers followed that series with two three-pointers from Thompson and Amanda Haven. Later, Sczeny Hartry hit a lay-up on the break from Jones. Hartry was fouled on the play, but made the free throw to convert the three-point play. After that, Jones jumped in on the action with another three for the Lady Blazers.

Jones wasn't done. She put in back-to-back baskets from long range to make it nine early points for Jones. Her third three-pointer gave the Lady Blazers a 24-11 lead just under halfway through the first half.

Valdosta State was hot with five threes in the opening frame. Once the Hurricanes adjusted, the Lady Blazers hit them down low with Daniels in the post. Daniels poured in three baskets in the half with three free throws for nine first half points to help Valdosta State to a 33-22 lead at the break.

Jones showed she was still hot when she made the first basket of the half for VSU. But Wiltz and Reynolds of Georgia Southwestern would not give the game away. Wiltz scored seven consecutive points while Reynolds took over to score eight straight in the first part of the second half.

Behind their efforts, the Hurricanes would close the VSU lead to 46-38. Then Branch knocked down a long ball to pull within five before Booker scored to make it a seven-point lead with 7:26 left to play.

With just over three minutes left, GSW pulled within three points, 52-49, on two Kanita Holloway free throws. After a GSW timeout, Bivins hit a baseline jumper to make it a one-point lead for the Lady Blazers.

The Hurricanes held the Lady Blazers to a shot clock violation on the ensuing possession, and Bivins put Georgia Southwestern ahead with another basket. Two free throws from Wiltz made it a 55-52 lead for GSW with just 41.5 seconds left in the game.

Valdosta State had a chance to answer, but missed the basket. After that, the Lady Blazers forced the Hurricanes to the free throw line. Georgia Southwestern converted six free throws down the stretch to claim a 59-55 come-from-behind victory.

The Lady Blazers will look to rebound at Clark Atlanta at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

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