VALDOSTA, Ga.- A commanding 20-point game from sophomore Taylor Searcy helped the Valdosta State Lady Blazers to a 59-52 win over the West Alabama Tigers at The Complex on Saturday Afternoon. VSU improved to 12-2 on the year and 11-1 in Gulf South Conference play and won its 12^th straight game, while the Tigers fell to 9-7 on the year and 6-6 in the conference.
 
Searcy, the reigning GSC Player of the Week, had another impressive game scoring a game-high 20 points going 7 of 10 from the field with one three pointer, a perfect 5 for 5 from the line and pulled down seven rebounds to earn Guardian Bank Lady Blazer Player of the Game honors.  It marked her third game of 20 or more points this season.  Redshirt senior Jirah Ards also had a notable afternoon scoring 12 points on 5 of 9 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free throw line. Junior Tamiya Francis also had a solid scoring performance, chipping in 11 points and seven rebounds.  As a team, VSU shot 45.8 percent from the field on 22 of 48, while it was 5 of 17 from deep and 10 of 15 from the line.  
 
The Lady Blazers had tough competition in UWA's Bria Dent who entered as the second highest scorer in the Gulf South Conference this season averaging 17.9 points per game and over 11 rebounds per game. She ended the game with 15 points, going 7-14 from the field and pulled down 11 rebounds.  UWA's Jala Williams added 13 points and Maryanne Logsdon, who was saddled with three quick fouls in the first quarter, added ten points.  The Tigers, who dropped their fourth-straight game, finished 20 of 49 from the field, 6 of 19 from deep and 6 of 6 from the line.  
 
VSU and UWA started out the game by trading baskets back and forth for much of the first quarter. However, the Lady Blazers were able to remain in front after the Tigers initial opening basket. Most of this came from the Lady Blazers going on a 7-4 run to end the quarter, sparked by a field goal from deep courtesy of junior Lili Long with 5:33 remaining. Despite the impressive run by the Lady Blazers, UWA was able to stay in the game thanks to Bria Dent shooting 3 of 4 from the field, scoring seven. The Blazers held the lead, closing out the first quarter, 16-12.
 
The Lady Blazers continued their hot scoring into the second quarter as sophomore Kate Tanner's rapid layup made the game 18-12 with 8:20 remaining in the quarter. VSU had a very notable afternoon scoring in the paint scoring eight in the quarter, and 18 for the half compared to UWA's four points in the paint for the half.  The Lady Blazer "D" came together in the second quarter as well holding Dent to no points in the quarter and UWA as a team to nine. The Lady Blazers held a 33-21 lead at the break.
 
The Tigers came out of the gate on fire after the half, outscoring Valdosta State 12-4 to pull within 37-33 through the first 5:07 of the quarter. The Lady Blazers quickly responded with a pair of free throws from Searcey to make the ledger 39-33 with 4:41 in the quarter.  UWA didn't let up in the third quarter, however, holding the Lady Blazers to only eight points for the frame, while scoring 16. With the Tigers crawling back into the game, VSU held a narrow 41-37 lead entering the final quarter of play.
 
The Lady Blazers answered the call early in the fourth with a downtown three pointer from Francis with 9:29 left to go in the game. From there, Valdosta State would go on a 12-7 run capped off by an "and one" play from Searcey to make the game 55-46 with 4:21 left to go. Despite a great second half effort from UWA, it was not enough to overcome the Lady Blazers' dominant first half.
 
The Lady Blazers will return to action on the road next week as they take on two Gulf South Conference opponents at Shorter at 5:30 p.m., on Thursday, January 12 and at league-leading Lee at 2 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 14.  Lee downed VSU in Valdosta by the slimmest of margins, 56-55 in the second game of the season in Valdosta.