VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's basketball team returns to The Complex as it is scheduled to open the 2018-19 Gulf South Conference slate Thursday against No. 2 Union University at 6 p.m., followed by hosting Christian Brothers Saturday at 6 p.m.  
 
Fans can access links to live stats and audio coverage of the game on the women's basketball schedule page as Mike Chason will have the call of both games on 92.1 WDDQ.  There will be no video streaming of the games this weekend.  Fans who attend the VSU football game Saturday at 1 p.m. versus Lenoir-Rhyne, will be admitted to the basketball doubleheader Saturday for free with their football game ticket. 
 
The Lady Blazers are 2-2 on the year and are looking to get back on the winning track after a pair of disappointing outings in Florida, prior to Thanksgiving.  VSU currently is receiving votes this week in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top 25 after being ranked 23^rdin the previous ranking.  
 
In the losses to Palm Beach Atlantic and Lynn, VSU struggled shooting as it went just 43 of 132 from the field (.321), while going 8 of 40 from beyond the arc (.200) and 20 of 41 from the line (.488).  The Lady Blazers averaged 41.5 rebounds per game, while recording 15 assists with six blocks and 20 steals, but had 22 turnovers.  VSU averaged 57 points for the two games and lost by a combined eight points. The opposition shot .431 from the field on 47 of 109, while also struggling from beyond the arc on 5 of 27 (.185) and went 23 of 35 from the line (.657).  The opponents averaged 41.5 rebounds per game, while recording 22 assists, six blocks and 14 steals.  VSU forced 37 turnovers, but were only able to score 25 points on the miscues.
 
Senior Crystal Townsend paced the team averaging 13.5 points.  She was 11 of 15 from the field (.733), while going 2 of 3 from beyond the arc and 3 of 6 from the line.  She averaged 6.5 rebounds for the two games.  Senior Kayla Bonilla averaged 11.5 points on 9 of 27 from the field and 5 of 8 from the line.  Senior Maddy Corazza averaged a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game for the week.  
 
For the season, VSU is shooting .331 on 84 of 254 from the field, while the opposition is 84 of 213 from the field for a .394 clip.  The Lady Blazers are 25 of 91 (.275) from beyond the arc, while going 57 of 100 (.570) from the line.  VSU is averaging 45.2 rebounds per game for a +7.5 average in rebounding (37.8 opponents). VSU has 39 assists, 11 blocks, 43 steals and is averaging 62.5 points per game.  The opposition is shooting 15 of 70 from beyond the arc (.214) and 44 of 72 from the line (.611), while recording 41 assists, 12 blocks, 25 steals and scoring 56.8 points per game.
 
Individually, Bonilla leads the team averaging 11.8 points per game on 14 of 38 from the field.  She is 3 of 11 from beyond the arc and lead the team at the line going 16 of 20 (.800). Bonilla has a team-high 12 assists with one block and a team-best eight steals. Townsend is second in scoring at 10.3 points per game.  She leads the team from the field, going 17 of 31 for a .548 clip.  She is 4 of 7 from beyond the arc and 3 of 6 from the line. Townsend is averaging a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game, with 19 on the offensive end.  She is 14^thnationally and leading the GSC in offensive rebounds per game at 5.0 per contest.  Junior Nari Garner lead the team with eight triples, while senior Sonya Franklin is second in free throw shooting at 14 of 19 for a .737 clip.
 
Nationally speaking, the Lady Blazers are 15^thnationally and first in the GSC in offensive rebounds per game at 18.0, while ranking 10^thnationally and first in the league in 3-point field goal defense holding teams to a .214 clip.  VSU is 30^thnationally and second in the conference in rebounds per game at 45.3, while ranking third in the league in scoring defense, holding teams to 56.8 points per game.  VSU is 39^thnationally and third in the league in fewest turnovers with 58. The Lady Blazers are third in the GSC in turnover margin (5.75), third in turnovers forced (20.3) and second in turnovers per game at 14.5.  
 
Union is the nation's top-ranked team in the D2SIDA Poll and, coupled with the No. 2 ranking by the WBCA, it marks the highest ranking in program history for the women's program. Union is 5-0 on the year with wins at Barry (69-62) and Nova Southeastern (76-60) this season.  
 
The Bulldogs are coming off a 109-50 win over NAIA foe Brescia (Ky.) on Nov. 19.  Union had five players in double figures in the game as Morgan Martin had 19, while Avree Carpenter and Emily Beard each had 17 points. Union has had four players in double figures in each game this season.  
 
Union is shooting 159 of 329 from the field this season for a .483 clip, while going 47 of 112 from beyond the arc (.420) and 70 of 99 from the line (.707).  The Bulldogs are averaging 40.6 rebounds per game, while recording 96, nine blocks and 54 steals.  The Bulldogs are averaging 87.0 points per game.  Conversely, the opposition is shooting .366 on 107 of 294 from the field, while going 38 of 113 from beyond the arc (.340) and 38 of 56 from the line (.682).  The opponents are averaging 31.0 rebounds per game with 59 assists, 10 blocks and 24 steals. Union has forced the opponents into 91 turnovers for an 18.2 average this season.  The Bulldogs are allowing an average of 58 points per game.
 
Martin leads the team averaging 17.6 points per game on 37 of 54 (.685).  She is 14 of 21 from the line, while leading the team in rebounding at 8.0 per game.  She has a team-high seven blocks.  Jada Perkins is second in scoring at 12.6 points and is a team-best 15 of 18 from the line (.833).  Perkins is 21 of 41 from the field (.512) and has drained six of nine triples.  She has a team-high 32 assists with 20 steals to pace the team.  Jada Smith is third in scoring at 11.8 points on 24 of 55 from the floor.  She is second on the team in rebounding at 5.4 per game and has 26 assists with eight steals.  Tiffany Rechis is fourth in scoring at 10.6 points per game.
 
Union ranks in the top ten nationally in assist/turnover ratio (3^rd, 1.68), scoring margin (4^th, 29.0), scoring offense (5^th, 87.0) and 3-point field goal percentage (9^th, .420).  Individually, Martin is fifth in field goal percentage at a .685 clip, while Perkins ranks seventh nationally in steals (20) and seventh in steals per game (4.0).
 
Christian Brothers is 2-0 on the year with a win over LeMoyne-Owen (76-73, OT) and a 68-63 win at Lane.  The Bucs will play at West Florida on Thursday, before visiting VSU Saturday.  The Bucs are led by Kelsey Adkins at 20.0 points per game as she is 12 of 23 from the field (.522) with four triples and 12 of 18 from the line.  She is second on the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game. Kenzie Jones is second in scoring at 18.5 points per game, while she is 12 of 28 from the field and a team-best 11 of 12 from the line.  Brynne Lytle leads the team averaging 9.5 rebounds per game and 10 points per game for fourth on the team.  Rachel Lee is third in scoring at 11.5 points and is tied with Adkins with four triples to lead the Bucs.  
 
As a team, the Bucs are shooting .359 from the field on 47 of 131, while going 16 of 61 (.262) from beyond the arc and 35 of 52 from the line (.654).  CBU is averaging 37 rebounds per game, with 22 assist, 18 steals and two blocks, while scoring 72.0 points per game.  The opposition is shooting .426 on 47 of 115 from the field, while going 10 of 24 (.417) from beyond the arc and 28 of 44 (.636) from the line.  The opponents also are averaging 37 rebounds per game with 18 assists, 14 steals, 10 bocks and scoring 68 points per game.
 
Following the two games this weekend, the Lady Blazers host Tampa on Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., at The Complex, before a road trip on Dec. 6 at Paine and a home game on Dec. 12 against Georgia Southwestern.