JACKSON, Tenn. – For the first time since 1984, the Valdosta State women's basketball team has qualified for the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Quarterfinals.  The Lady Blazers upset top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Union, 66-58, Monday evening in front of a raucous crowd of 615 fans.   VSU reached the national semifinals in 1984 and the quarterfinals in 1983
 
The Lady Blazers, who were the No. 7-seed in the South Regional, downed No. 2-seed Tampa (59-50), No. 3-seed Lee (70-44) and now No. 1-seed Union to be one of three No. 7-seeds to the advance to the Elite Eight from across the eight regions.
 
VSU improved to 26-5 on the year, while Union finished its season with a 28-3 record.  The Lady Blazers avenged a heartbreaking 59-56 loss at Union back in January with the victory Monday evening.  VSU graduate student Kwajelin Farrar was named South Region Most Valuable Player as she finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks as she held Gulf South Conference Player of the Year and D2CCA South Region Player of the Year Jaelencia Williams to 12 points and nine rebounds.  Graduate student Nicole Heyn also earned all-tournament honors, finished with 16 rebounds and ten points for her seventh double-double of the season.  The 16 rebounds were a season-high.  Freshman Taylor Searcey added 15 points and five rebounds as she concluded an outstanding tournament.  Sophomore Tamiya Francis added 11 points. 
 
Four years ago, VSU, also a No. 7-seed, defeated a Sunshine State Conference school (Florida Southern) in the first round and defeated Lee in the semifinals (63-57), before falling in heartbreaking fashion to Union, 74-73.  VSU battled back and held a 73-72 lead with 13 seconds remaining, but Union was fouled and made two tosses with five seconds left as VSU was unable to connect on a final shot.
 
The Lady Blazers made sure there were going to be no repeats on Monday evening.
 
VSU shot 20 of 45 from the field for 44.4 percent, while it was 5 of 13 from beyond the arc and 21 of 31 from the line, including 19 of 27 from the line in the fourth quarter alone as the Lady Blazers were 2 of 4 from the line in the first three quarters.  The Lady Blazers held Union to 22 of 56 from the field for a 39.3 while the Lady Bulldogs were 7 of 25 from deep and 7 of 12 from the line.  VSU held a dominating 39-19 lead in rebounding, including 9-2 on the offensive end. 
 
Union finished 22 of 66 from the field for 39.3 percent, while it was 7 of 25 from range and 7 of 12 from the line.  Shanique Lucas had 19 points to lead the team on 7 of 16 from the field, 4 of 8 from range and 1 of 1 form the line, while grabbing seven rebounds.  Along with Williams' 12 points, Ashtyn Baker also scored 12 points. 
 
Farrar scored four early points on Williams as VSU held a 6-2 lead with 7:21 left in the first quarter.  Heyn also had four early points and an 8-5 VSU lead.  The second made trey from Union tied the game at eight with 6:12 left in the first period in front of a near-capacity crowd.  VSU never trailed in the game and it was tied twice at 8-8 and 10-10. 
 
A big 3 from Francis put VSU up 13-10 with two minutes left in the first quarter, courtesy of a steal under the basket by Searcey.  Another bucket from Farrar gave her six points for the game and a 15-12 VSU lead with 90 seconds left in the frame.  Farrar scored for a 17-12 lead and 47 seconds left for the largest lead of the game to that point. 
 
VSU opened the game making 8 of 14 shots for a 57.1 average and 1 of 2 from deep, while holding Union to 5 of 13 from the field and 2 of 6 from range.  The Lady Blazers out-rebounded Union 9-5 and 8-4 on the defensive end for the frame. 
 
Sophomore Lili Long buried a triple for a 20-12 lead and nine minutes remaining in the first half.  A steal by Heyn and layup in transition from graduate student Delaney Bernard pushed the lead to double-digits at 22-12 with 8:10 left in the half.  A trey from Lucas marked the third triple of the game for the Lady Bulldogs cutting the deficit to 22-15 with 6:42 left in the half. Searcey buried a huge triple pushing the lead back to ten at 25-15 at the other end.  Farrar scored on a nice dish from Francis for a 27-15 lead out of a media timeout.
 
Heyn hit a triple for a 30-17 lead and two minutes remaining in the half on a big offensive rebound for the score.  Farrar continued to frustrate GSC and D2CCA Region Player of the Year Williams on the defensive end.  Searcey, who came out of the game minutes earlier with a bloody eyebrow, earned the "and one" for a 33-17 lead and 49 seconds left in the half.  Following two misses at the stripe by Williams, VSU had the shot with 7.6 seconds.  A traveling call on Farrar with 1.8 seconds left negated a bucket, but Union wasn't able to get a shot off before the buzzer as VSU held a 33-19 lead at the break. 
 
Just like in the first meeting between the two teams, VSU used a strong second quarter to stretch out the lead, outscoring Union 16-7 tonight and 21-9 back on Jan. 22 here at the Fred DeLay Gymnasium.  For this game, VSU shot 14 of 27 from the field for the half for 51.6 percent, while it was 4 of 6 from deep and 1 of 1 from the line.  Farrar led the team with ten points on 5 of 10 from the field, while Heyn had seven points and 11 rebounds in the half. 

The stout Lady Blazer "D" held Union to 7 of 23 from the field for 30.4 percent, while it was 3 of 9 from deep and just 2 of 7 from the line.  Williams had eight points in the half and four rebounds.  VSU held a 10-2 lead in points off turnovers and a 20-6 advantage in points in the paint and an 18-8 lead in rebounding.
 
A quick 5-2 start for Union to begin the second half, pulled the Lady Bulldogs within 35-24, but Francis quieted the crowd with a long jumper and a 37-24 lead with seven minutes left in the frame. A big trey from Union's Bethany Dillard pulled the Lady Bulldogs within 37-29 and a turnover forced a VSU timeout with 5:19 left in the frame, as Union opened the half with a 10-4 run.  Another long one from Lucas cut the VSU lead to five at 37-32.  Lucas then scored inside for a 37-32 score and stretched the run to 15-4 with 3:20 left in the quarter.  Searcey ended the run off an offensive rebound and put back for a 39-34 score with 2:18 remaining in the quarter. 
 
Farrar had a spin move and score on Williams for her 14^th point of the game and Searcey grabbed the rebound and was fouled for two shots, making one of two free throws for a 42-36 lead and 1:10 left in the third.  Bernard buried a huge three off an offensive rebound for a 45-36 lead and Union was unable to get a shot off as time expired in the quarter.  VSU closed the frame on a 6-0 run and weathered the initial run from Union. 
 
Baker earned the "and one" for a 45-39 VSU lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth.  Francis scored in the paint and was fouled pushing the lead to ten at 49-39 and 7:18 left.  Heyn pulled down her 15^th rebound of the game and pushed the lead to 50-39 with 5:46 left. 
 
Lucas buried a triple, her fourth of the game and a turnover on VSU followed with VSU leading 50-44 and under four to play.  Farrar was fouled after Searcey worked hard for a rebound all the way in the backcourt.  Farrar then hit two free throws for a 52-44 lead and 3:41 remaining.  
 
Williams scored inside with 2:53 remaining pulling Union within 52-46 for her 12^th point of the game.  VSU stood tall defensively, once again, Searcey drew the offensive foul.  Long was fouled by Baker and made one free throw for a 53-46 lead and 2:24 left.  Union continued fouling, but Searcey was up to the task making both for a 55-46 lead and 1:43 remaining.  Following two free throws from Union, Searcey was fouled again with 1:23 left as she made one of two for a 56-48 lead.  An air ball on a triple from Union followed with 1:11 remaining as the Lady Bulldogs continued the full court press. 
 
VSU broke the press and Heyn was fouled with 57 seconds left.  Heyn made two free throws for a 58-48 lead and Searcey was fouled once again with 48.7 seconds remaining.  She made one of two and Union earned the freebie at the other end for a 59-51 score with 41 seconds left. 
 
The teams continued to trade scores as VSU continued to be strong at the line when it counted most.  Union scored inside and Farrar was fouled in the backcourt with 13.1 seconds remaining.  Farrar made one free throw and Union missed a jumper as Heyn was fouled with 3.4 seconds remaining as the Lady Blazer faithful roared with excitement in the 66-58 victory.
 
The 2022 Elite Eight features three No. 1-seeds, three No. 7-seeds, one No. 2-seed and one No. 3-seed to meet next week at the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, Ala.  The eight teams will be reseeded as the seeding will be announced soon.  Check back with vstateblazers.com to find out who and when VSU will play in the quarterfinal round on Monday, Mar. 21.