VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Blazers of Valdosta State basketball are off to a great start to the 2015-16 season and will look to carry their early momentum into Gulf South Conference play, which begins this Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. against North Alabama at The Complex in Valdosta, Ga.
Head Coach
Kiley Hill's new additions to the Lady Blazer basketball program this season have paid big dividends early on for Valdosta State. The Lady Blazers have won four of their first five contests and have been led thus far by freshman
Aaliyah Cheatham, who is currently averaging over ten points per game. In addition, sophomore
Madi Mitchell has made her presence known with an average of 9.8 points per game and a 41.5 shooting percentage.
These top newcomers, combined with returners
Maggie Davis and
Imari Simpson, who are averaging 7.2 and 5.6 points per game and represent two of the top returning rebounders, have supplied the Lady Blazers with what they hope will be a recipe for success against GSC opponents this season.
Valdosta State's first test will be against the North Alabama Lions, who currently hold a 1-4 record heading into GSC play and are still searching for their first road win. With the exception of two recent exhibition contests, the Lions' last matchup was a 87-65 loss at the hands of Arkansas Tech.
Despite their slow start, North Alabama features a lineup that includes one of the league's top scorers. Keke Gunter, a sophomore out of Columbus, Ga., posted a career high 23 points in UNA's aforementioned loss to ATU. The guard shot 7-of-16 from the floor and 3-of-6 from the three point line, and her current average of 15.2 points per game represents the third best average in the GSC.
Missy Tiber, now in her third season with the program, leads a North Alabama program that holds a 30-36 all-time record against Valdosta State. Tiber's overall record at UNA stands at 31-29, and the Lady Blazers will be looking for their first victory over the Lions since Tiber took over the program in 2013.
Full coverage for Thursday's matchup, including live video, audio, and live statistics, can be found at www.vstateblazers.com.
