VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's basketball team improved to 9-2 on the year with an 86-43 victory over Thomas University Thursday evening at The Complex.  
 
The Lady Blazers were led by 15 points from senior Cheray Saunders on 7 of 12 from the field with one triple and two assists.  Freshman Kendall Bollmer had 13 points off the bench on 4 of 10 from beyond the arc with a free throw, three assists and one steal, while junior Kayla Bonilla added 11 points, three assists and three steals.  Sophomore Kayla Frey narrowly missed a double-double with 11 rebounds and nine points.  
 
VSU finished 34 of 73 from the field for a 46.6 average and held the Night Hawks to just 26.2 percent shooting on 16 of 61. VSU was a season-best 14 of 36 from beyond the arc and went 4 of 7 from the line.  The Lady Blazers held a 45-40 lead in rebounding, while forcing 20 turnovers leading to a 26-4 lead in points off miscues.  The Lady Blazers had a season-low six turnovers in the game.
 
TU was led by 13 points from Alexis Powell as she was 5 of 14 from the field with two triples.  Samantha Gilbert had 10 points and five rebounds, while Alisha Clayton had 10 rebounds to lead the team.  
 
The Lady Blazers built an 11-point lead at 17-6 in the first quarter, but the Night Hawks cut it six as VSU settled for a 22-14 lead after one frame.  TU pulled within 24-20 on a layup from Destiny Reed with 6:53 left in the half, but VSU closed the frame with a 21-5 run for a 45-25 lead at intermission.
 
Frey put in a layup with 4:03 left in the third for a 59-29 lead.  Later in the third, Bollmer buried a triple for a 65-29 lead.  Bollmer continued her impressive play from beyond the arc in the fourth with four triples, including three in the final four minutes and change as VSU won 86-43.  
 
VSU goes for its tenth win of the season and concludes the 2019 portion of the schedule Saturday at 2 p.m. at The Complex versus Lenoir-Rhyne.