VALDOSTA, Ga. – Riding a combined 29-game winning streak, both teams ranked in the top ten and a battle for a leg up in the Gulf South Conference race, the No. 8 Valdosta State women's basketball team hosts No. 3 Union University Saturday at 2 p.m. in The Complex.
 
The Lady Blazers enter riding a 17-game winning streak with a 20-2 record overall and a 17-1 mark in GSC play, while Union has won its last 12 games and is 22-1 overall and 16-1 in GSC play.  VSU upset then-No. 4 Union 83-68 on Dec. 17, 2023, in Jackson, Tenn., behind a then-career-high 24 points from Ford leading four Lady Blazers in double figures.  VSU shot .545 from the field on 30 of 55 from the field in the game, while going 17 of 21 from the line.  The Lady Blazers held a 38-30 lead at halftime and outscored the Lady Bulldogs 45-38 in the second half for the 83-68 victory.  Union pulled within five at 60-55 with 8:28 to play, but VSU finished on a 23-13 run for the victory.  Union had four players in double figures led by 12 points from Courtney Zensen.  Three other players had ten points each.  VSU held Union to just 32.8 percent shooting for the game.  
 
The Lady Bulldogs have won 16 of the last 22 meetings in the series, but VSU has won three of the last five.  Union has visited The Complex just once since Nov. 29, 2018, as VSU won 60-54 on Dec. 11, 2022. During that span, the teams have played eight other times with six in Jackson, one in Tampa and one in Birmingham.  
 
Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more at vstateblazers.com on the women's basketball schedule page.  The game also will be broadcast on 92.1 WDDQ FM with Jack Calhoun having the call and www.talk921.com.  
 
On Thursday evening, VSU defeated Christian Brothers 76-53 for its 20^th win of the season, marking the third-straight season of 20 or more victories.  Head coach Deandra Schirmer improved to 104-30 in her fifth season, while she now is 80-19 in GSC games.  VSU clinched a "Super Tuesday" home game with the win for Mar. 5 for the quarterfinal round of the GSC Championship.  Tickets went on sale on Friday, Feb. 9, in the VSU Athletic Ticket Office or by calling 229-333-SEAT (7328).  
 
A career-high 18 points from junior Victoria Ikenasio highlighted the game Thursday evening as she was 8 of 12 from the field and 2 of 3 from the line leading four players in double figures.  Senior Emma Martin went 6 of 7 from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc for 15 points, while junior India Jordan added 11 points off the bench and senior Lili Long buried three triples finishing with ten total points.  VSU held a 34-24 lead at halftime and outscored CBU 42-29 in the second half for the 23-point victory.  VSU shot 49 percent for the game and 44 percent from beyond the arc, while holding CBU to 36 percent from the field and just 29 percent from distance.  The Lady Blazers held a 35-18 lead in rebounding, while forcing 14 turnovers and a 17-5 lead in points off turnovers. 
 
Union had its hands full with West Florida Thursday evening, but pulled out an 81-78 victory over the Argos. Union held a 48-44 lead at intermission, but the Argos shot 14 of 31 from the field in the second half as the Lady Bulldogs were 10 of 28 from the field for the final two quarters.  UWF held a 78-74 lead with 3:37 to play, but two free throws from Shanique Lucas and a triple from Macey Lee off a steal from Lucas gave Union the lead for good with 2:18 to play.  Union had a 63-51 lead with 4:42 left in the third before UWF rallied.  Olivia Lee paced Union with 17 points as five players scored in double figures, while Lucas had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Union went 14 of 37 from distance in the game.  
 
VSU is third nationally in field goal percentage at a 47.4 clip to lead the GSC on 573 of 1208 shooting, while the team is ninth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage at a 37.0 clip on 143 of 387 from distance.   VSU is tenth nationally in scoring defense, holding teams to 54.4 points per game for tops in the league, while the Lady Blazers are 11^th nationally and second in the league in scoring margin at a 17.7 clip behind Union.
 
Individually, Martin is eighth nationally and tops in the GSC in 3-point field goal percentage at a 45.6 clip on 47 of 103.  She averages 2.14 triples per game to lead the team.  Junior Kalifa Ford is second in the GSC in field goal percentage at a 52.9 clip on 111 of 210 from the field.  Ford is fourth in the GSC in field goals made and fifth in the league in steals (41).  Senior Aleisha Curry is second in the GSC in free throw percentage at an 84.9 clip on 79 of 93 from the line.  
 
Union leads the nation in scoring margin (32.6), scoring offense (96.3), 3-pointers attempted per game at a 34.1 clip, 3-pointers made per game (11.8) and turnover margin (14.30).  The Lady Bulldogs are second nationally in assists per game (19.8), bench points per game (46.5) and turnovers forced per game (29.4).  Union also is in the top ten in assist/turnover ratio (4^th, 1.31), steals per game (5^th, 15.3), free throws made per game (5^th, 16.74), field goal percentage (6^th, 47.0) and free throw attempts (7^th, 23.0).
 
Individually, Lucas is eighth nationally in steals (66) to lead the GSC, while she is 19^th nationally in steals per game (2.87).  Jazalyn Annousinh is tenth nationally in assists (120) and 17^th nationally in assists per game (5.5), while Macey Lee leads the team in field goals made (108), free throws made (65) and free throws attempted (108).  Lauren West is second in the league in 3-pointers attempted (156) for 28^th nationally, while Zensen is 29^th nationally and third in the league.  West is third in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (37.8), while she is 15^th nationally and second in the league in made 3-pointers with 59 for a 2.81 average, which is good for 18^th nationally and second in the league.