LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Behind four players in double figures, including 29 points from junior Kayla Bonilla, the Valdosta State women's basketball team ran its winning streak to five with a 79-67 victory at West Alabama Saturday afternoon, with a season-high 60 percent shooting as a team.
 
The Lady Blazers (12-2, 4-2 Gulf South Conference) shot .608 from the field on 31 of 51 from the floor, while going 7 of 14 from beyond the arc and 10 of 17 from the line.  Bonilla finished the game with a season-high 29 points on 9 of 17 from the field, 4 of 7 from beyond the arc and 7 of 11 from the line.  She had four assists and four steals, while tying for the team-lead with six rebounds.  Bonilla has scored 20 or more points in each of the last three games for the red and black.
 
Senior Cheray Saunders added 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting and drained two free throws.  Senior Nari Garner, who missed the one-point win over West Florida on Thursday, scored 14 points with two triples and a free throw coupled with 6 of 10 from the field on Saturday.  She had five assists and two steals, while junior Delaney Bernard chipped in 11 points on 5 of 8 from the floor and one triple.
 
The VSU "D" held UWA to 22 of 58 from the field for a .379 clip, while the Tigers were 3 of 11 from range and stayed within striking distance by going 20 of 28 from the line.  Both teams had 32 rebounds in the game, but VSU held a 46-32 lead in points in the paint and a 26-16 advantage in points off turnovers as UWA never led in the contest. 
 
For the Tigers (7-4, 2-3 GSC), Bria Dent had 21 points on 7 of 18 shooting, while going 7 of 9 from the line along with seven rebounds.  Tazsa Garrett-Hammett added 15 points and seven rebounds as she was 5 of 9 from the field with five charity tosses.  Jayda Golden went 4 of 6 from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc for 11 points.
 
Big first and third quarters were the difference in the game as VSU scored 48 points in those two frames alone and led 61-41 through three quarters.  The Tigers mounted a fourth quarter comeback, outscoring VSU 26-18 for the final stanza.  The Tigers cut the double-digit deficit to eight on a hoop from Garrett-Hammett and a free throw for a 73-65 score with 1:47 left. 
 
Bonilla had the answer at the other end with a huge triple for a 76-66 score with 51 seconds left, ending a scoreless streak of over four minutes for VSU.  She then pushed the margin back to double-digits with a free throw and layup at the buzzer as she scored the final six points for the Lady Blazers.
 
VSU returns home to host Mississippi College next Thursday at 6 p.m., at The Complex and next Saturday at 2 p.m. versus Delta State.