AMERICUS, Ga. – In its first road test of the season, the Valdosta State women's basketball team rallied from down by as many as 12 points, used a big fourth quarter and a 13-2 start in overtime for a 90-79 victory at Georgia Southwestern Thursday evening.  Sophomore Erin Whalen and senior Kiersten Nelson each had 24 points to lead the team, while Nelson had a career-high 16 rebounds.
 
The Lady Blazers (4-1) caught fire in the extra-session as junior Mary McMorris buried a triple in the overtime for a 78-75 lead for the Lady Blazers with four minutes in the extra session.  McMorris finished with 18 points on 5 of 12 from the field, 1 of 3 from distance and 7 of 9 from the line.  After a bucket from GSW's Kelis Carmon, Whalen hit a jumper off her own steal and score from Nelson pushed the lead to five at 82-77 with 2:52 remaining.  Whalen had the magic touch with her second stretching the lead to eight at 85-77 with 2:07 to go.  Nelson kept the run going with a bucket for an 88-77 lead with a hoop-and-harm for a 13-2 start to the overtime for the Lady Blazers.  GSW's Destiny Garrett scored her game-high 30^th point and two free throws from McMorris with eight seconds to play made the final margin 11. 
 
Nelson went 9 of 16 from the field and a perfect 6 of 6 from the line with the 16 board.  Whalen was a career-best 11 of 18 from the field and 2 of 5 from distance with eight rebounds.  Junior Aryana Hicks added 11 points.  Garrett went 10 of 18 from the field and 10 for 10 from the line for her 30 points and dished out seven assists for the 'Canes who fell to 1-3 on the year.
 
VSU finished 34 of 70 from the field for 48.6 percent, while it was 5 of 15 from range, but went 3 of 5 from distance in the fourth quarter and overtime after starting 2 of 10 in the first three frames.  The Lady Blazers were 17 of 21 from the line, while registering 34 rebounds. 
 
Georgia Southwestern (1-3) shot 52.8 percent for the game on 28 of 53, while it was 8 of 22 from distance and really cooled off down the stretch, going just 3 of 10 in the second half and overtime after starting 5 of 12 in the first half.  GSW was 15 of 20 from the line and had 31 rebounds. 
 
VSU was opportune on the defensive end forcing 27 turnovers and holding a 33-16 advantage in points off turnovers with a season-high 16 steals.
 
This marked the first overtime game for VSU since a 71-66 win over Montevallo on "Super Tuesday" on Feb. 28, 2023, in the quarterfinal round of the Gulf South Conference Championship.  VSU improved to 9-3 against GSW since 2008 and now has won five-straight in the series.
 
In the fourth, Nelson scored to pull the Lady Blazers within one at 56-55 as VSU tied it twice more in the first five minutes and change of the frame.  Out of a media timeout, senior Jacey Justice knotted the game at 66 with a free throw with 4:41 to play, but Ndidiamaka Nkukwe scored at the other end.  She finished with 11 points for GSW.  Nelson answered with two charity tosses tying the game, once again.  Whalen gave VSU its first lead since the first quarter with a bucket and McMorris scored off a turnover by GSW for a 72-68 lead with 3:31 to go and a timeout by the 'Canes.
 
Out of the stoppage, back-to-back buckets from GSW tied the game at 72 as Garrett earned the hoop-and-harm for a 73-72 GSW lead and 2:37 to play.  A big turnover on Garrett gave VSU the ball with 55 seconds left and Hicks made the 'Canes pay with a bucket for a 74-73 lead.  Garrett missed a jumper as Nelson pulled down the rebound with 21 ticks and a timeout to advance the ball. 
 
Garrett had to foul with nine seconds remaining as Hicks made one of two at the line.   GSW advanced the ball to half court with a timeout.  A foul was called on VSU with one second remaining as Garrett made both free throws to tie the game forcing overtime.
 
The first half saw a lot of runs by both teams as VSU raced out to an 8-2 lead to begin the game, while GSW responded with an 8-0 run and used a 6-0 run to end the first quarter for a 20-16 score.   In the second, GSW stretched the lead to 34-22 with 5:17 to play in the half, but the Lady Blazers kept chipping away and used a 10-0 run pulling within 34-32 with 2:04 left in the half.  GSW held a 42-36 lead at the break and led 56-53 through three quarters.
 
VSU continues on the road next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Clayton State.