NCAA Selection Show

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Valdosta State women's basketball team battled Lee in the 2019 Gulf South Conference Women's Basketball Championship as the No. 3-seeded Flames outlasted the No. 5-seeded Lady Blazers to claim the championship, 81-73. 
 
Despite the loss, VSU held a 17-10 lead through the first quarter, but the Flames exploded for a 25-10 advantage in the second quarter as the teams tied for points in the third and fourth quarters with 21 and 25, respectively, in each frame.  The Lady Blazers were led by a game-high 22 points from sophomore Kayla Bonilla as she and senior Crystal Townsend were named to the GSC All-Tournament Team.  Bonilla went 6 of 14 from the field with three triples and 7 of 10 from the lien, while Townsend had 10 points and seven rebounds in the championship. 
 
VSU (21-10) shot 40.4 percent for the game on 23 of 57 and drained 11 of 30 triples, while going 16 of 22 from the line.  The Lady Blazers held a 40-32 lead in rebounding and an 18-8 lead in second chance points, outrebounding Lee on the offensive end, 15-9. 
 
The big difference in the game was free throw shooting as Lee (25-6) was 31 of 44, including 14 of 18 in the fourth quarter and 23 of 30 for the second half after starting the game 8 of 14 in the first half.  The Flames had four players in double figures led by 19 points from Abby Bertram and Haley Schubert, while Nicky Widenski and Taylor Boggess each had 12 points.  Bertram missed a double-double by one rebound.  The Flames shot 42.9 percent for the game on 21 of 49, while going 8 of 20 from range.  VSU turned the ball over 16 times, while Lee had nine miscues as the Flames held an 18-14 lead in points off turnovers. 
 
VSU now will see if it did enough with the win over Union on Saturday to earn a berth in the NCAA South Regional.  The Lady Blazers were not ranked in any of the public rankings each of the last three weeks.  The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET Sunday evening on NCAA.com.  Click on the link at the top of the page for the site for the show.
 
Bonilla began where she left off Saturday with a triple to begin the game as VSU raced out to a 7-2 lead.  Lee came roaring back, to pull within 9-8, but VSU closed the frame on an 8-2 run for a 17-10 lead after one period. 
 
Junior Nari Garner gave VSU a 20-14 lead with 8:14 left in the first half, but Lee responded with a 20-2 run for a 34-22 lead with 1:35 left.  VSU cut into the deficit with a triple from senior Kendra Green and a pair of charity tosses from Townsend for a 35-27 deficit at halftime.
 
Lee extended the lead to 49-34 through the first half of the third quarter, but the Lady Blazers kept chipping away and cut the deficit to six at 54-48 with a 14-5 run as Lee added two free throws at the end of the frame for a 56-48 lead through three quarters.
 
The Lady Blazers caught fire once again as they pulled within 61-59 through the first 4:40 of the final stanza capped with a jumper from Garner for a 13-3 run to start the frame.  With 2:11 left, senior Shon Kitchens buried a triple to pull VSU within 66-65, but Lee had the answer at the other end and quickly pushed the lead to nine, making its foul shots down the stretch.

Senior Maddy Corazza got VSU within four on a triple with 35 seconds left, but Lee answered with free throws, making 11 of its final 12 free throw shots in the final two minutes. 
 
If this ends up being the last game for the Lady Blazers this season, VSU had six key seniors who played a huge part in the run to the championship game.  Corazza, Townsend, Green, Jazmyn McIntosh, Kitchens and Sonya Franklin complete the 2018-19 senior class under third year head coach Carley Kuhns.  VSU won the league title in 2016-17 and reached the Sweet Sixteen last season.  We wish the seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors.