THE BASICS:
SCORE: Valdosta State 78, Georgia Southwestern 54
RECORDS: Valdosta State 6-3, Georgia Southwestern 3-4
LOCATION: Valdosta, Ga. (The Complex)
THE LEAD:  Behind four players in double figures and 53.6 percent shooting from the field, the Valdosta State women's basketball team posted its fourth-straight win with a 78-54 victory over visiting Georgia Southwestern Wednesday evening at The Complex.  VSU had four players in double figures led by a game-high 18 points off the bench from junior Nari Garner.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A triple from GSW's Alex Chatman gave the visitors a 9-8 lead sparking a 12-4 run over the final five minutes of the first quarter for an 18-12 lead for GSW through one quarter.
• The second quarter was a different story, however, after GSW stretched the lead to 11 at 23-12 with 8:54 left in the half, VSU went on an 18-2 run to close the half for a 30-25 lead at intermission. 
• During the run, senior Sonya Franklin scored on a layup with 3:14 left giving VSU the lead at 24-23, continuing a 12-0 run at that point.
• GSW hit its only bucket over the final 8:54 on a layup from Kris Beckham with 1:11 left in the half.
• A 13-0 run by the Lady Blazers put the game away in the third quarter capped with a layup from Franklin with 5:15 left at 43-27. 
• Freshman Kayla Frey buried the "and one" for a 53-33 lead with 1:26 left in the third and the largest lead of the game at 20 points to that point.
• Garner buried a triple in the fourth for a 74-48 lead with 4:24 left and Franklin pushed the lead back to 26 at 78-52 late, but GSW hit a jumper late for a 78-54 final.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• For the half, VSU shot 11 of 28 from the field (.393), while going 2 of 6 from beyond the arc (.333) and 6 of 11 from the line.
• VSU held an 18-14 lead in rebounding, while forcing the Lady Canes into 15 miscues.
• Garner had eight points in the half on 3 of 5 from the field with two triples.
• GSW shot 9 of 24 from the field, while going 4 of 12 from beyond the arc and 3 of 4 from the line.  Chatman had a team-high six points.
• VSU shot a blistering 19 of 28 from the field in the second half for a season-high 67.9 percent, while draining 5 of 6 triples and going a perfect 5 of 5 from the line. 
• Garner finished 6 of 10 from the field, while going 5 of 8 from beyond the arc and buried one free throw. 
• Senior Crystal Townsend added 14 points, while Franklin went a perfect 6 of 6 from the field for the game for 12 points and senior Maddy Corazza added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. 
• Chapman paced the Canes with 11 points as the lone player in double figures, as GSW shot 22 of 59 from the field, 5 of 18 from beyond the arc and 5 of 6 from the line.

UP NEXT:

• The Lady Blazers return to league play this weekend at Lee and at Alabama Huntsville on Saturday and Monday, respectively.
• Due to the national championship game for the Blazer football team, the games at Lee and UAH will not have a VSU radio broadcast. 
• Please check with vstateblazers.com for links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more. 
• Following the Christmas break, the Lady Blazers will be back in action Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. versus Thomas College to close out the 2018 portion of the schedule.