VALDOSTA, Ga. – A 24-10 third quarter propelled the Valdosta State women's basketball team to a 59-40 victory Saturday afternoon against visiting Delta State at The Complex. VSU improved to 15-3 overall and 14-2 in Gulf South Conference play, while Delta State fell to 7-13 overall and 6-10 in league play.
VSU honored eight outstanding former Blazers who were inducted into the VSU Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday. The 26
th Induction Class included; Federico "Freddy Arango (Men's Golf, 1998-2000), Dr. and Mrs. Hugh C. Bailey (Contributor, 1978-2001), Jessica Codato (Volleyball, 2013-2015), Russ Hoff (Athletic Trainer, 1997-2017), Sean Pender (Football, 1992-1996), Butch Shelman (Men's Basketball, 1988-1992), George Whitmire (Cross Country, 1975-1977) and Robert Williams (Football, 1991-1994).
The Lady Blazers, who held a slim 20-16 lead at halftime, opened the second half with a commanding 19-5 run to start the third quarter for a 39-21 lead with 3:44 left in the frame, as the Lady Blazer offense began to catch fire. A steal by Tanner and score from junior
Lili Long for the Australia connection pushed the lead to 20 at 44-24 with 2:13 to play in the frame as VSU held a 44-26 lead through three quarters. For the frame, VSU shot 8 of 12 from the field, 4 of 6 from distance and 4 of 7 from the line as it was just 6 of 26 from the field, 2 of 9 from distance and 6 of 6 from the line in the first half.
In the fourth, sophomore
Taylor Searcey, who finished with a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds, scored the "and one" for a 52-29 lead with 6:17 to go for the largest lead of the game. DSU pulled within 18 In the final minute, but Searcey went 1 of 2 from the line for the 59-40 margin.
Searcey was 4 of 7 from the field for the game and 5 of 7 from the line for the game for her fourth double-double of the season and second of the weekend. Long, who was named Guardian Bank Lady Blazer Player of the Game, finished with a team-high 14 points off the bench on 4 of 10 from the field, 3 of 6 from distance and 3 of 4 from the line.
For the game, VSU shot 36.4 percent from the field on 16 of 44, while it was 6 of 17 from beyond the arc and 21 of 27 from the line, including 11 of 14 from the stripe in the fourth quarter. VSU held a 34-26 lead in rebounding and scored 20 points off 15 Lady Statesmen miscues as VSU had just eight turnovers for the game.
DSU was led by 14 points from Alanna Smith as the only Lady Statesmen in double figures on 6 of 11 from the field, with one triple and one free throw. The Lady Statesmen were 14 of 39 from the field for 35.9 percent, while going 5 of 11 from beyond the arc and 7 of 14 from the line.
The upset-minded Lady Statesmen held the Lady Blazer offense in check in the first quarter for a 9-6 lead, but a triple from Long with 5:57 left in the first half gave VSU its first lead of the game. DSU would tie the game at 15, but Long answered at the other end, once again, with a trifecta with four minutes to play and an 18-15 lead.
Junior
Aleisha Curry hit two free throws for a 20-15 lead with 3:16 to go as Bryanna Taylor hit one of two from the line for a 20-16 margin at the break. Both teams went scoreless for the final 2:56 of the first half. DSU wasn't much better shooting in the first half, going 6 of 16 from the field, 2 of 5 from beyond the arc and 2 of 3 from the line.
VSU won the first meeting back in November in Cleveland, Miss., 44-42 as Tanner came up with a jumper in the paint and Long hit a big free throw for a 44-40 lead with just over a minute left. VSU defended well in the final minute as DSU missed a potential game-tying jumper from Smith at the buzzer. With this Saturday's victory, VSU now has won the last four in the series with the Lady Statesmen.
The Lady Blazers return to the road for three games, beginning with the Red Clay Rivalry Series at West Georgia next Saturday at 4 p.m. in Carrollton, Ga. Trips to Christian Brothers and Union follow, before the Lady Blazers return home for three-straight beginning Feb. 11 against West Florida at 2 p.m. at The Complex.
