VALDOSTA, Ga. – Fresh off two big wins last week on the road, the Valdosta State women's basketball team returns home to face Montevallo Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at The Complex.  
 
Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more on vstateblazers.com on the women's basketball schedule page.  The game also will be broadcast on 92.1 WDDQ with Mike Chason and Spencer Van Horn having the call of the game.  
 
Following Thursday's game, VSU will be idle on Saturday and then will return to action on the road at West Georgia and at Shorter, Feb. 7-9.  The Lady Blazers then will host Mississippi College and Delta State on Feb. 14-16, before road games at West Florida and West Alabama (Feb. 21-23) and will close the regular season at home on Feb. 28 against Auburn Montgomery.
 
The Lady Blazers are 14-6 overall and 8-4 in Gulf South Conference play, while Montevallo is 6-5 in league play and 10-9 overall.  VSU currently sits fourth in the league standings, three games behind league-leader Union, who is 11-1.  Lee is second at 10-2, followed by West Florida at 9-3.  VSU holds a one-game lead on Delta State heading into the week.
 
VSU has won its last three games, including a 47-38 win at Montevallo a week ago and then won 55-49 at Auburn Montgomery on Saturday.  For the week, VSU shot 32 percent from the field, while holding the opposition to a .298 clip.  The Lady Blazers were 7 of 27 from beyond the arc and 27 of 44 from the line.  VSU dominated the glass, outrebounding the opposition by an average of 45.5 to 33.0.  The Lady Blazers averaged 51 points per game and allowed just 43.5 in the two games.  
 
Individually, sophomore Kayla Bonilla paced the team, averaging 15 points per game on 11 of 23 from the field (.478), while going 3 of 6 from beyond the arc and 5 of 7 from the line. She has six steals to lead the team as VSU forced 14 steals on 28 opponent miscues.  Senior Sonya Franklin averaged 10.5 points on 9 of 19 from the field with two triples.  Senior Maddy Corazza was third for the week in scoring at 10.0 points per game and tied with senior Crystal Townsend in rebounding as both averaged 8.0 per game. Corazza and Townsend each had seven made free throws to lead the team.  
 
VSU allowed under 50 points in back-to-back games for the first time this season and the 38 points allowed at Montevallo was the fewest since allowing 35 against Thomas University on Dec. 11, 2017.  The Lady Blazers last held the opposition under 50 points in back-to-back games in wins over Auburn Montgomery and West Georgia at The Complex last season.  
 
In the win over Montevallo last week, VSU held a 22-11 lead in points off turnovers and 17-10 in second chance points as VSU never trailed in the game.  UM pulled within 28-27 with a 9-0 run to start the second half, but two free throws from Corazza at the other end extended the lead back out. Back-to-back triples from VSU pushed the lead to ten early in the fourth quarter.  VSU held UM to just 22.2 percent shooting for the game and .200 shooting from beyond the arc, as the Lady Blazers held a 49-32 lead in rebounding. 
 
The Falcons dropped both of their games last week, not scoring over 50 points in either contest. UM is averaging 61.1 points per game and allowing 62.3 this season.  The Falcons are shooting .376 from the field for the season, while the opposition is at a .396 average.  UM is 94 of 318 from beyond the arc (.296) and 232 of 338 from the line (.686).  Nautika Philpot leads the team averaging 13.3 points per game as the lone Falcon in double figures.  She is 92 of 242 from the field (.380) to lead the team, while going a team-best 30 of 91 (.330) from beyond the arc and is second in free throw shooting on 38 of 47 (.809).  Kourtnie Smith leads the team averaging 8.1 rebounds per game and is second in scoring at 8.7 points.  Smith is 62 of 135 from the field and a team-high 42 of 70 (.600) from the line. 
 
This season, Bonilla leads the team averaging 11.6 points leading three Blazers in double figures. She is tied for second on the team in made field goals with 77 (77-188) for a .410 average, while draining 17 triples and going a team-high 60 of 81 (.741) from the line.  Bonilla has a team-high 65 assists with 37 steals which also lead the team.  Townsend is second in scoring at 11.0 points per game as she is 77 of 166 from the field (.464).  She has 15 triples and is 50 of 68 from the line (.735).  Townsend leads the team averaging 7.3 rebounds per game. Franklin is third in scoring at 10.2 points per game, while leading the team with 80 made field goals in 169 attempts (.473).  She has 42 assists and 27 steals, both ranking second on the team.
 
As a team, the Lady Blazers are 28^thnationally and second in the GSC in free throws attempted (419), while ranking 25^thin the nation and second in the league in rebounding margin at 7.8.  VSU leads the conference and is 16^thnationally in total rebounds with 838, while ranking second in the league and 42^ndnationally in rebounds per game at 41.9.  VSU's 57.2 points allowed per game is 24^thnationally and fourth in the conference. VSU is holding teams to a 27.6 average from beyond the arc, ranking 36^thnationally and fifth in the league.