ROME, Ga. - A strong offensive performance by the Lady Blazer women's basketball team led to a 63-41 victory over the Shorter Hawks on Thursday night in Gulf South Conference action in Rome, Ga. Senior Madi Mitchell scored her 1,000th career point to help lead the team to a big conference win.
"She does everything that a lot of other players won't do. She'll dive on the floor, she'll box out, she'll crash. She's so active. She could care less how many points she scores, she just wants to see our team win," said Head Coach Carley Kuhns after the win.
Mitchell put on a show offensively, and wasted no time doing so. Near the eight minute mark in the second quarter, the senior drained a layup to become the 26th Lady Blazer to score 1,000 points in Valdosta State history. Overall, she was 6-for-11 in field goals with eight rebounds. She tallied 16 total points in 29 minutes of play.
"Madi has really put our team on her back the past two years and her ability to score the ball inside and out just makes her so dangerous. I couldn't be happier for her. It's a big milestone and I'm really proud of her," added Kuhns, who also represents one of the 26 members of VSU's 1,000 point club.
Complimenting Mitchell's strong performance was fellow senior Taylor Buie, who went 3-for-4 shooting from the field and buried two from behind the arc in the first half of play. Valdosta State's strong defensive effort limited Shorter to only 20 first half points while the Blazers racked up 30 points in the first two frames. The Blazers battled tough in the paint with 27 first-half rebounds, including six for Mitchell, five for Kenya Samone' Dixon, and four for both Crystal Townsend and Jaz McIntosh.
Coming out hot in the second half, Dixon drained a 3-pointer, which sparked a 10-4 run in favor of VSU. Overall, the Lady Blazers outscored Shorter 17-10 in the third to take a comfortable 47-30 lead heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter of play was more of the same, as the Lady Blazer's secured their victory with 16 more points. Buie, a senior out of Puyallup, Wash., scored five of her 13 points in the fourth and finished the night shooting 5-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from behind the arc.
As a team, Valdosta State shot 44.4% from the field and 61.5% from the 3-point line. Valdosta State dominated in the paint, outrebounding Shorter 48-25 and generating 17 second-chance points.
Valdosta State will return to The Complex on Sunday, January 7th to defend their undefeated 6-0 home record. The Gulf South Conference matchup against the rival Lady Statesmen of Delta State is slated for a 6:00 p.m. tip off time.
