LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Behind 20 points from senior Kiersten Nelson and junior Aryana Hicks, along with ten points from reigning Gulf South Conference Player of the Week junior Mary McMorris, the Valdosta State women's basketball team won 72-67 on Thursday evening at West Alabama in the GSC opener for both teams.
 
Nelson finished 7 of 13 from the field with one triple and 5 of 5 from the line, while pulling down eight rebounds, while Hicks went 7 of 10 from the field and 6 of 9 from the line, while adding five assists.  McMorris was 3 of 9 from the field and 4 of 6 from the stripe.  The Lady Blazers improved to 6-1 on the year under first year head coach Chandler Merkerson and won their fifth-straight game. 
 
The team shot 24 of 56 from the field for 42.9 percent, while it was 3 of 11 from distance, but all three triples ended up being at big moments.  VSU was 21 of 28 from the line in a game that saw a combined 41 fouls and 46 free throw attempts.
 
UWA (0-5) had all five starters in double figures with 14 points from Callie Cowan and a double-double from Jordan Parker with 11 points and 11 rebounds.  The Tigers were 25 of 55 from the field for 45.5 percent, while they were 6 of 15 from distance and 11 of 18 from the line. 
 
VSU held a 28-14 lead in points off turnovers and free throw shooting proved to be the difference in the contest.  The Lady Blazers continue in Alabama as they travel to Alabama Huntsville for a Saturday contest at 3 p.m.  ET. 
 
The win was not easy, however, as the upset-minded Tigers looked to stop a seven-game winning streak by the Lady Blazers in the series.  A hoop-and-harm bucket from Hicks gave VSU its first lead of the game at 10-8 with 3:33 to play in the first quarter.  UWA would close the frame on a 13-6 run for a 21-16 lead through the first ten minutes.
 
Early in the second quarter, UWA stretched its lead to as many as nine on a jumper from Parker for a 29-20 advantage with 7:09 remaining in the half.  UWA pushed the lead back to nine on multiple occasions over the next three minutes, but the Lady Blazers, who hadn't played since Nov. 26, settled down and kept chipping away.  A pair of old fashion three-point plays from Nelson trimmed the deficit to 33-30 with 2:57 to play in the half.  Cowan answered with a bucket and senior Jillian Schenk cut the deficit to two at 35-33 for the halftime score as UWA didn't score over the final 2:32 of the half. 
 
For the half, VSU shot 42 percent on 13 of 31, while it was 0 of 4 from distance and 7 of 9 from the line.  UWA shot 48 percent on 16 of 33 from the floor, while going 3 of 9 from deep and didn't attempt a free throw.  VSU held a 13-2 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Buckets from Hicks and steal from McMorris and layup from sophomore Erin Whalen gave VSU its first lead since a 10-8 advantage in the first quarter at 37-35 with 8:19 remaining in the third.  UWA attempted its first free throw at the 5:13 mark by Kaedre Denson breaking a 37-37 tie.  Later, Nelson hit the first VSU 3-pointer to tie the game at 44 with 3:06 to play in the quarter and then scored another 3-point play for a 47-44 lead marking the largest of the game to that point with 2:43 remaining.  McMorris ended the quarter with two free throws for a 51-47 lead through 30 minutes. 
 
Two triples from the Lady Blazers – one from senior India Jordan and one from senior Jacey Justice opened the fourth quarter as the Lady Blazers stretched the lead to ten at 57-47 with 8:28 to go.  Hicks pushed the lead to 11, but Cowan answered with a long ball while Kendall Lacoste trimmed the deficit to four at 60-56 with 4:40 to play.  Two free throws from Jordan pushed the lead to seven at 66-59 with 1:09 to play.
 
The Tigers wouldn't go away quietly, however, providing a frantic final minute as a Bucket from Denson and a layup from Cowan cut the Lady Blazer lead to 66-63 with 46 seconds.  Nelson hit two big free throws following a foul for a 68-63 score, but Cowan kept UWA within striking distance with a triple and 41 seconds to go at 68-66.  One of two free throws from Julia Rodriguez following a steal cut the VSU lead to 68-67, but a bucket and free throw from Hicks and three huge free throws down the stretch from Jordan sealed the victory.  Jordan finished with eight points and was 5 of 6 from the line.