JACKSON, Tenn. – Behind a career-high 24 points from junior Kalifa Ford and four players in double figures, the Valdosta State women's basketball team dominated No. 4 Union Sunday afternoon on the road to the tune of an 83-68 victory.  The win moved VSU to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in Gulf South Conference play, while handing Union its first loss of the season as the Lady Bulldogs fell to 10-1 overall and 5-1 in league play.
 
VSU shot .545 from the field on Sunday for the best shooting percentage in Lady Blazer league games so far this season, going 30 of 55 from the floor, while it was just 5 of 14 from beyond the arc and made up for it going 18 of 23 from the line.  The Lady Blazer "D" held Union to just 22 of 67 from the field (.328), 7 of 27 from beyond the arc and the Lady Bulldogs were 17 of 21 from the line.  The 83 points scored by the Lady Blazers marked the third-most allowed by Union this season with 86 being the most against both Trevecca Nazarene (109-86) and West Georgia (96-86). 
 
It was the first regular season victory for VSU at Union since a 61-57 victory on Dec. 17, 2016, and just the third win in the last 13 meetings in Jackson overall.  It was VSU's sixth win in the last 21 against Union, but the Lady Blazers now have won three of the last five.  VSU head coach Deandra Schirmer improved to 93-30 all-time and 69-19 in GSC play in her five seasons at VSU, while she now is 3-5 all-time against Union.
 
Ford finished 10 of 16 from the field and 4 of 5 from the line, while recording three assists.  Senior Emma Martin was 6 of 10 from the field, 3 of 7 from distance and 3 of 4 from the line, while senior Taylor Searcey finished with her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds.  Searcey was 3 of 7 from the field and 5 of 8 from the line.  Junior India Jordan finished with 15 points off the bench for a season-high in 20 minutes.  She was 5 of 9 from the field with one triple and 4 of 4 from the line. 
 
Union had four players in double figures led by 12 points from Courtney Zensen, while Jazalyn Anousinh, Macey Lee and Emma Kallas each had 10 points.  Union held 22-16 lead in points off turnovers as VSU had 21 miscues and Union had 16.  The game saw two ties and four lead changes, while VSU held a 42-30 lead in points in the paint.
 
The Lady Blazers won the scoring in each quarter of the game and scored 20 or more points in three of the four frames.  In the first quarter, a triple from Martin started a 10-0 run capped with five points from Jordan during the spurt.  Union cut the deficit to three late in the quarter, but one of two at the line from Martin made the score 20-16 through ten minutes.  Union tied the game at 25 with a layup from Brook Hampel with 5:40 left in the half, but Martin answered at the other end as the Lady Blazers finished the quarter on a 13-5 run for a 38-30 lead at the break.
 
In the third, Union would pull within striking distance, but the Lady Blazers wouldn't panic and stretch the lead back out each time.  The Lady Bulldogs cut the deficit to five at 40-35 with 7:58 left in the third, but VSU responded with a layup from Searcey, one from senior Aleisha Curry and a layup from Ford for a 46-35 lead with 6:15 left in the quarter.  Later, two charity tosses from Union cut the deficit to eight, but Martin buried a jumper, followed by one from senior Tamiya Francis for a 56-44 lead with 1:39 left in the frame.  Anousinh hit another bucket at the buzzer pulling the Lady Bulldogs within 60-51 through three quarters.
 
Anousinh pulled Union within 60-55 with 8;28 to go, but Martin answered with a triple off an assist from Francis, who led the team with six dimes in the game, at the other end.  Two charity tosses from Searcey pushed the lead to eight at 65-57 with six minutes to play and Ford earned the "and one" later with 4:41 to play and a 68-57 lead.  Union cut the deficit to eight late in the game, but good free throw shooting by the Lady Blazers sealed the victory for an 83-68 win.  VSU went 14 of 17 from the line in the fourth quarter, while the defense held Union to 4 of 20 for the quarter from the field and 0 of 9 from beyond the arc for the frame and 9 of 11 from the line.
 
VSU returns home for the Christmas holiday and then will open the 2024 portion of the schedule with three home games, beginning Jan. 2 at 6 p.m. at The Complex versus rival West Florida.