VALDOSTA, Ga. – Coming off two impressive victories in the Valdosta State Thanksgiving Classic, the Lady Blazers make their first road trip of the season Tuesday at Georgia Southwestern.  Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Americus, Ga. 
 
Following the game Tuesday, the Lady Blazers return home to open Gulf South Conference play Saturday at 6 p.m. at The Complex versus rival West Georgia in the inaugural Red Clay Rivalry Series. VSU leads the Red Clay Rivalry Series 4-1 with victories so far during the regular season in men's and women's cross country, football and women's soccer. UWG swept the season series in volleyball.  
 
Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more at vstateblazers.com on the women's basketball schedule page.  Tuesday's game will be broadcast on 94.3 WJEM FM with Spencer Van Horn having the call, while Saturday's game also will be broadcast on the same channel with Mike Chason having the call.
 
The Lady Blazers (4-1) defeated previously undefeated Columbus State 78-51 and No. 16 Bentley 68-55 this past weekend.  VSU averaged 73.0 points for the two games and allowed 53.0 per game, while shooting at a .481 clip on 51 of 106 from the floor.  VSU was 12 of 34 from beyond the arc (.353) and 32 of 47 from the line.  The Lady Blazers outrebounded the opposition 40.0-31.0.  
 
Graduate transfer Nicole Heyn played her first two games in a Lady Blazer uniform last week as she averaged a team-high 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.  Heyn went 10 of 19 from the field (.526) with six treys and 9 of 10 from the line.  She had two assists, two blocks and seven steals for the week, while recording her first double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds against Bentley.  Graduate student Kwajelin Farrar averaged 14.5 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game on 13 of 23 from the field (.565) with seven assists for the week.  Graduate student Mallory Odell also averaged 14.5 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game, including a career-high 20 points against Bentley on Saturday.  In the game, she went 6 of 8 from the field and 8 of 10 from the line.  
 
Lady Blazer head coach Deandra Schirmer is in her third season at the helm of the program and is 40-16 overall.  Schirmer has a strong nucleus of players returning from last season and her squad was picked third in the GSC preseason poll behind league favorite Union and Lee.  The Lady Blazers currently are No. 23 in the latest WBCA Top 25.  
 
Georgia Southwestern enters with a 5-0 record on the young season as the Hurricanes were picked fourth in the preseason Peach Belt Conference Poll.  GSW went 9-6 last year and 7-4 in PBC play, marking the first winning season for the 'Canes since 2014-15.  Head coach Justin Payne is in his third season at the helm of the program.
 
The Lady Blazers lead the all-time series 7-5 and have won the last two meetings in the series and five of seven.  The teams last played on Nov. 29, 2019, in Valdosta as VSU won 82-69 in overtime.  The Lady Blazers got two free throws at the buzzer of regulation to tie the game at 67 and then outscored the 'Canes 15-2 in the overtime session.  The Lady Blazers also won 78-54 on Dec. 12, 2018, also in Valdosta.  VSU has split the last two meetings at the Storm Dome, losing 62-54 on Nov. 14, 2017, and winning 67-51 on Nov. 17, 2012.  
 
Individually for GSW, Jolicia Williams leads three players in double figures at 12.0 points per game, while Ava Jones averages 11.4 points and Jacquelyn Levay is third at 10.6 points per game.  Lex Chatman leads the team averaging 7.4 rebounds per game, while Kayla Langley averages 7.0 rebounds per game.  GSW is shooting at a .404 clip for the season and .308 from beyond the arc, averaging 7.2 made triples per season.  The 'Canes are averaging 16.2 made free throws per game for a .664 clip.  
 
GSW has victories over Mars Hill, Newberry, Middle Georgia, Albany State and Fort Valley State. The closest contest for the 'Canes this season was 63-54 victory at Albany State on Nov. 20.  The other four margins have been 18 points or more, including a 109-59 victory over Middle Georgia.
 
Following the game Tuesday, the Lady Blazers return home to open Gulf South Conference play with rival West Georgia on Saturday.  The Wolves, who were picked ninth in the GSC preseason poll, are 2-2 this season and will travel to West Florida Wednesday, before coming to Titletown on Saturday. 
 
UWG is led by Siera Carter, who is averaging a team-high 22.0 points per game this season on 36 of 73 from the field (.493), 7 of27 from beyond the arc and is second on the team in rebounding at 7.0 per game. Zaria Bankston is second in scoring at 12.0 points per game as she is 15 of 36 from the field, 4 of 14 from deep and a perfect 14 of 14 from the line.  Jaylin Austin leads the team averaging 10.5 rebounds per game and is fourth in scoring at 8.3 points per contest.  Austin is 16 of 28 from the field for the season.  
 
As a team, the Wolves enter the week shooting at a .411 clip on 116 of 282 from the floor.  They are 28 of 94 from beyond the arc (.298) and 47 of 73 from the line for a .644 clip.  UWG is averaging 76.8 points per game and allowing 67.8 per contest.  The opposition is outrebounding UWG 45.3 to 41.3 for a -4.0 margin.  
 
VSU has won the last four meetings in the series and swept all three contests last season, including an 82-69 victory in Valdosta to open the season on Dec. 12, 2020.  The Lady Blazers are 7-3 against UWG in the last ten meetings and nine of 11 overall.