VALDOSTA, Ga. – After a big first half, the Valdosta State women's basketball team fought off a second half rally by visiting Mississippi College for a 63-55 victory Thursday evening at The Complex.  Senior Sonya Franklin paced the team with a game-high 20 points.  
 
VSU (17-7, 11-5 GSC) jumped out to a 39-16 lead at halftime as the Choctaws outscored VSU 39-24 in the second half, including 26-16 in the fourth quarter to pull within five with a minute left, but Franklin and senior Shon Kitchens made free throws to seal the victory.  
 
Franklin went 7 of 12 from the field with one triple and 5 of 6 from the line leading two players in double figures as sophomore Kayla Bonilla added 12 points.  Senior Kendra Green added nine rebounds off the bench. VSU shot 36.5 percent for the game, but was just 6 of 24 from the field in the second half and 19 of 52 for the game. The Lady Blazers went 5 of 15 from range and 20 of 27 from the line, including 9 of 14 in the fourth quarter alone. 
 
MC (6-16, 2-14 GSC) was led by 16 points from Jamilah Sanders who had 11 of 16 points at halftime for the Choctaws.  She was 6 of 9 from the field with one 3-pointer and 3 of 3 from the line. Kaitlyn Thompson added 11 points and Zariah Matthews had 10.  The Choctaws shot 33.9 percent for the game, but went 14 of 31 from the field in the second half to spark the rally.  MC was 4 of 14 from beyond the arc for the game and 13 of 18 from the line.  
 
The Lady Blazers used an 8-0 run over the final five minutes of the first quarter for a 19-8 lead capped with a triple from junior Nari Garner.  VSU went 7 of 14 from the field with three 3-pointers in the first quarter, while holding the Choctaws to 3 of 12 from the field in the opening quarter. 
 
In the second quarter, the Lady Blazers turned up the heat an outscored MC 20-8, outscoring the Choctaws 17-8 over the final 6:15 of the half for a 39-16 lead.  VSU shot 46.4 percent for the half on 13 of 28, while going 4 of 8 from beyond the arc and 9 of 11 from the line.  
 
Franklin had 14 points in the first half on 5 of 8 with a triple and 3 of 4 from the line.  MC shot just 20 percent for the half on 5 of 25, while going 1 of 6 from beyond the arc and 5 of 7 from the line.  VSU held a 21-16 lead in rebounding and led 16-6 in points in the paint for the first half.   MC's Jamilah Sanders had 11 of the 16 points for the Choctaws in the half.
 
VSU continues at home with a huge game against Delta State on Saturday at 2 p.m. on Hall of Fame Weekend. It also marks Pink Out for the Lady Blazers as all fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.