MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Valdosta State women's basketball team dropped a 69-64 overtime decision at Montevallo Thursday evening, falling to 10-6 overall and 5-5 in Gulf South Conference play.  Lady Blazer senior Kiersten Nelson finished with a game-high 22 points on 10 of 13 from the field and two free throws, along with eight rebounds. 
 
In the extra session, Montevallo scored the first four points with two free throws from Aubrey Sorrells and a bucket from Gillies for a 61-57 lead with 4:36 to play.  Two free throws from Lady Blazer senior Jillian Schenk trimmed the deficit to 61-59, but a "hoop and harm" bucket from Lia Edwards pushed the lead to five with 4:06 to play.  Edwards finished with a team-high 21 points for the Falcons, who improved to 7-8 overall and 5-5 in league play.
 
UM used a triple from Jerrilyn Richardson for its largest lead of the game at 67-60 with 2:54 to go in overtime, but the Lady Blazers countered with a 4-0 run on free throws from senior Mary McMorris and junior Aryana Hicks and the lone bucket of overtime by VSU from Nelson for a 67-64 deficit and 1:19 to play.  VSU missed its final three shots of the game, going 1 of 5 from the field in overtime for the 69-64 final score.
 
The game saw ten ties and six lead changes, but fouls and turnovers stood out as VSU was just 12 of 22 from the charity stripe, while Montevallo was a staggering 30 of 43 from the line as VSU committed 30 fouls in the game to 18 for the Falcons.  Both teams had 19 points off turnovers as VSU forced UM into 19 miscues. 
 
VSU shot 24 of 58 from the field for 41.4 percent, while it was 4 of 18 from distance and were just 12 of 22 from the line.  The Lady Blazers held UM to 18 of 58 from the field for 31 percent, while the Falcons were 3 of 16 from deep and the 30 of 43 from the line proved costly. 
 
Schenk finished with 15 points off the bench on 4 of 8 from distance and 3 of 4 from the line, while Hicks added 11 points with six assists.  Gillies finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Edwards had 21 points and seven rebounds, while going 9 of 11 from the line. 
 
VSU ended the third quarter with a 4-0 run for a 42-36 lead heading into the fourth and the momentum continued as it used a bucket from Hicks on the opening possession for a 44-36 lead.  Montevallo quickly trimmed the deficit to three on multiple occasions, but VSU had the answer each time and the old fashion three-point play from senior Victoria Ikenasio pushed the lead to six with 2:47 to go.  Sophomore Erin Whalen hit one of two free throws with 1:23 to play in the fourth and a 56-49 lead before Montevallo closed the quarter on an 8-1 run, forcing the fourth overtime game of the season.
 
UM began the run with one of two free throws from Edwards and then a steal from Edwards and two more free throws cut the lead to three and Gillies made two tosses for a 56-55 score with 12 ticks remaining.  Morris went 1 of 2 for the Lady Blazers with 11 second to play, prior to Gillies tying bucket.
 
VSU closed the first quarter on a 6-0 run for a 15-9 lead and then stretched the lead to a game-high nine points on a triple from Schenk early in the second and then Nelson pushed the lead back to nine at 20-11 with 7:39 to play in the half.  Montevallo would answer, closing the half on a 12-4 run for a 24-23 VSU lead at intermission.
 
The Lady Blazers return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Auburn Montgomery.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to audio/video streaming links and live stats.