PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Valdosta State women's basketball team gave West Florida a strong first half of competition, but the Argonauts overcame the Lady Blazers in the second half to claim a 66-55 victory in Gulf South Competition on Saturday afternoon at the UWF Fieldhouse in Pensacola, Fla.
 
The loss dropped the Lady Blazers to 8-9 overall and 4-6 in GSC play. The Argonauts solidified their position as one of the top teams in the conference, as they improved to 12-3 overall, 9-2 against league opponents.

West Florida jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with three quick buckets in the first 1:15 of play, one of which resulted in a three point play for UWF's Kelly Preston, who was fouled on a layup. The Lady Blazers rebounded quickly, however, and cut the West Florida's lead to 9-6 after April Thomas, Maylisa Johnson, and Imari Simpson found the bottom of the net on a series of close range baskets.
 
For the remainder of the first period, the score remained close, and West Florida took full advantage of a hefty amount of free throw opportunities. The Argonauts, who entered Saturday's contest as the second worst free throw shooting team in the GSC, posted 12 of their 28 first half points on 12-of-15 free throw attempts in the first half.
 
Facing a four point, 28-24 deficit at intermission, the Lady Blazers cut the deficit to one point two different times early in the frame. The squad was never able to overcome the Argonauts though, and VSU saw their opportunity slip away when West Florida opened up a double-digit lead with a ten minute, 18-4 run that lasted from the 16:56 mark until the 8:28 point of the second period.
 
The difference in the game proved to be free throw shooting, as UWF finished 26-of-38 from the line, while Valdosta State hit 11 shots from the stripe on just 20 attempts. The 38 attempts from the line marked the most of the season for UWF.
 
UWF's Toni Brewer secured a double-double early in the second period and finished the afternoon with 24 points and 16 rebounds. The performance was reminiscent of Brewer's first double-double of the season, when she scored 25 points and hauled in 16 rebounds against Arkansas Monticello on November 28, 2014.
 
For the Lady Blazers, Thomas led the way offensively with six field goals on 16 attempts for a total of 17 points on the afternoon. Maggie Davis chipped in with seven points and three rebounds, while Thomas and Jordan Waugh teamed up for four boards each to lead the rebounding effort for Valdosta State.
 
The Lady Blazers now look ahead to a welcomed return to The Complex on Thursday, January 22^nd, when the Alabama-Huntsville Lady Chargers come to Valdosta for another GSC matchup at 6:00 p.m..