MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Behind a 45-29 second half and a 27-15 fourth quarter, the No. 2 Valdosta State women's basketball team ran its winning streak to 21 games with a 78-55 victory at Auburn Montgomery Saturday afternoon.  VSU improved to 24-2 overall and a program-best 21-1 in Gulf South Conference play, while AUM fell to 18-9 overall and 16-7 in league play. 
 
The 21 consecutive victories matched the school-record set during the 1983-84 season, tying for fourth all-time in Gulf South Conference history.  The 21 victories also are against GSC competition which is the second-longest winning streak in conference play in league history.  Delta State won 29-straight league games from 2006-2009, while DSU won 33-straight games overall for the most in league history (2007-08).  The 21 league victories surpassed last season's mark of 20-4 in league play for the most wins in conference play in league history. 
 
VSU swept the season series with AUM and has outscored the Warhawks 83-44 in the second half of the two meetings this season as VSU won 65-43 in Valdosta on Jan. 6.  In Saturday's matchup, Lady Blazer junior Kalifa Ford finished with 20 points on 8 of 14 from the field, 4 of 5 from the line, while recording one block and one steal Saturday leading four Lady Blazers in double figures.  Senior Emma Martin finished with 15 points on 4 of 9 from the field, 4 of 8 from deep and 3 of 3 from the line.  Senior Taylor Searcey added 12 points on 6 of 8 from the field, while junior India Jordan added ten points off the bench. 
 
The Lady Blazers shot 30 of 61 from the field for 49.2 percent, while the team was 7 of 16 from deep and 11 of 13 from the line.  VSU held a 35-34 lead in rebounding, while forcing AUM into 17 turnovers, leading to a 19-9 advantage in points off turnovers.  For the Warhawks, Allasha Dudley had a team-high 16 points on 4 of 16 from the field, 2 of 7 from deep and 6 of 6 from the line.  VSU held AUM to just 18 of 54 from the field for 33.3 percent, while the Warhawks were 7 of 24 from deep and 12 of 13 from the line. 
 
Both teams came out of the gates on fire offensively through the first three minutes as VSU was 3 of 5 from the field and 1 of 2 from deep, while AUM was 4 of 6 from the field and 2 of 2 from downtown for a 10-7 Warhawk lead.  From there, the teams cooled off over the next four minutes and change with AUM leading 10-9 with 3:58 left in the first.   VSU tied the game at 11-11 with a bucket from Jordan.  A trey from Martin gave the Lady Blazers their first lead of the game at 14-11 with 3:06 to play in the opening quarter.  AUM made its first field goal since the 7:01 mark for a 15-14 lead through one quarter.  After the fast start by both teams, VSU finished the quarter 6 of 14 from the field, while AUM was 5 of 16.  The Warhawks were 3 of 4 from the line, while VSU did not attempt a foul shot.
 
Tian Addison scored her seventh point of the game early in the second for a 17-14 AUM lead.  AUM held a 20-16 lead courtesy of freebies at the line, but Ford scored inside, pulling VSU within 20-18 and 7:54 to play in the first half.  Ford scored her tenth point of the contest pulling the Lady Blazers within 22-21 with 6:02 left in the second quarter.   AUM pushed the lead back to three with a bucket from Brianna Sanchez and a bucket from Jamya Tyus for a 26-21 lead with 4:25 to play. 
 
The momentum turned quickly as senior Taylor Searcey sparked a 12-0 run to end the half for a 33-26 VSU lead.  During the spurt, senior Aleisha scored five points, freshman Erin Whalen with two and Martin hit three free throws for the seven-point cushion at the break, 33-26.
 
For the half, VSU shot 13 of 27 from the field for 48.1 percent, while it was 2 of 6 from distance and 5 of 7 from the line.  The Lady Blazers held AUM to just 10 of 30 from the field, 2 of 12 from deep and the Warhawks were 4 of 5 from the line.  Both teams had 18 rebounds and seven turnovers each as VSU held a 10-5 lead in points off miscues.  Ford had ten points for VSU, while Addison had seven for the Warhawks.
 
The run continued into the second half as Ford scored off a miscue from AUM and a 35-26 lead with 9:17 remaining in the third.  A bucket from junior Victoria Ikenasio and the 14^th point from Ford stretched the lead to 39-26 with 7:17 to play in the frame and a timeout by the Warhawks.  Two more free throws from Ford stretched the run to 20-0 since the second quarter at 41-26 with 6:46 left in the quarter.  Two free throws from Allasha Dudley ended the run for the first points for the Warhawks since the 4:25 mark of the second quarter. 
 
Out of a media timeout, Searcey scored inside for 43-28 lead with 4:55 to play in the quarter.  Dudley made two more free throws pulling AUM within 43-30 with 3:57 left in the frame, but Ikenasio found easy sledding underneath for a bucket and a 45-30 lead at the other end.  The fouls started to mount for the Lady Blazers as Dudley made two more for a 45-32 score with three minutes left in the third.  AUM was 6 of 6 from the line and 0 of 8 from the field to that point for the third quarter.  Two more free throws and a triple from Jemeriah Moore, the first field goal of the quarter for the Warhawks, cut the VSU lead to 47-37 with 1:58 remaining in the third.
 
Curry came up big with a bucket silencing the crowd out of a timeout and Searcey scored pushing the lead back to 14 at 51-37 in the final minute of the frame.  AUM knocked down another triple for a 51-40 VSU lead through three frames.  VSU went 7 of 19 from the field in the third, 0 of 4 from distance and 4 of 4 from the line, while AUM was 2 of 11 from the field, 2 of 5 from deep and 8 of 8 from the line. 
 
A bucket from senior Lili Long and one from Searcey pushed the lead to 13 at 55-42 with 8:30 to play.  Later, Ford scored her 20^th point off an offensive rebound for a 57-42 lead with seven minutes remaining.  Triples by both teams made the score 60-45 with 6:15 to play in favor of the Lady Blazers.   Jordan drained a big triple for a 65-47 lead with 4:15 to play and her seventh point of the game as last Saturday at West Florida she came up with big shots down the stretch.  She then had a steal and Searcey with the bucket for a 67-47 sore and 3:47 to play.  Jordan then hit another triple for a 76-52 lead late as VSU went on for the 78-55 victory.
 
The Lady Blazers return home for the final two regular season games of the season, next Thursday and Saturday at The Complex.  On Thursday, VSU will face West Alabama at 6 p.m. for the Lady Blazer "Play For Kay" Pink Game sponsored by Southern OB/GYN.  Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the Thursday evening game.  Then, on Saturday at 2 p.m. versus Alabama Huntsville for Senior Day, the Lady Blazers will close out the regular season.