Box Score GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The Valdosta State Lady Blazers basketball team dropped its exhibition matchup against the Florida Gators on Wednesday night. The Lady Blazers hung with the Gators through the first half; but a stingy defense was ultimately too much as the Blazers fell, 84-38.
 
Both teams started out slow as they attempted to shake off the rust. The Lady Blazers struck first to take a 2-0 lead.. The Gators battled back as both teams traded buckets, before Florida took a 20-11 lead into the second quarter. The second quarter saw both offenses struggle, as a total of 12 points were scored. Even with the offensive struggles, the Blazers only found themselves trailing 28-15.
 
In the second half, the Gators found their stride. Florida opened with a 10-0 run and did not look back as they blew the game wide open. VSU attempted to chip away as the third quarter went on, but the Gators length and size inside was too much to handle for the Lady Blazers. The fourth quarter brought the first three-pointers of the game for the Blazers, as the VSU offense started to click. However, the Florida offense overmatched the Blazers as the final buzzer sounded.
 
The Gators were able to turn defense into offense, as Florida forced a total of 22 turnovers. The Blazers were led offensively by guard Cheray Saunders. The Nova Southeastern transfer tallied 12 points and four rebounds in her Valdosta State debut. Saniah Simpson-Patu contributed with five points and seven rebounds, as Patu also made her debut in the red and black.
The Blazers can take a way a few things as they head back to Titletown. The ball will eventually go in, as Deandra Schirmer wasn't too concerned with her teams shooting performance.
 
"We had great looks, but we just couldn't get them to fall," Schirmer said, "You are going to have nights like that, but we just have to get ready for next week."
 
The Lady Blazers will be back in action as they open the season next Friday, November 9. The Lady Blazers play host to Fort Valley State at 5 p.m. Check back with vstateblazers.com all season long for everything Lady Blazers basketball.