VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's basketball team opens the 2025 portion of the home schedule hosting No. 12 Union on Thursday at 6 p.m., inside The Complex and then on Saturday at 2 p.m., versus Christian Brothers.
 
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 games also will be broadcast on the radio on 94.3 WJEM FM with Mike Chason on the call and online at www.foxsportsvaldosta.com.
 
VSU enters with a 9-4 record overall and a 4-3 mark in Gulf South Conference play, coming off a 1-1 weekend to open the new year in Mississippi.  VSU is coming off a thrilling 60-58, overtime victory at Delta State last Saturday as senior Kiersten Nelson scored with less than two seconds remaining in the overtime session for the victory.  The Lady Blazers dropped a disappointing 73-65 overtime loss at Mississippi College last Thursday.  The two overtime games this past week were the second and third overtime games of the season for the Lady Blazers (2-1). 
 
The Lady Blazers are shooting .439 from the field this season on 345 of 786 from the field, while they are 65 of 223 from beyond the arc (.291) and 139 of 222 from the line (.626).  VSU is averaging 35 rebounds per game and scoring 68.8 points per game.  Conversely, the opposition is shooting at a .406 clip on 276 of 687 from the field, while going 71 of 223 from distance (.318) and 168 of 245 from the line (.686).  VSU is holding teams to a 61.3 scoring average and the opponents are averaging 29.8 rebounds per game. 
 
Individually, Nelson leads the team averaging 14.0 points per game on 66 of 130 from the field (.508), while sophomore Erin Whalen is averaging 11.9 points per game and a team-high 9.3 rebounds per game.  Junior Aryana Hicks is averaging 10.8 points per game, while junior Mary McMorris is at 10.5 points per game.  She and senior Jillian Schenk each have 15 made triples this season to lead the team. 
 
Nationally speaking, the Lady Blazers are second in the GSC in rebounding margin at 5.2, while they are third in the league in steals per game at a 10.5 clip with 136 thefts for the season.  VSU is fourth in the league in turnover margin (3.3) and are third in turnovers per game at 15.2 per contest. Individually, Nelson's .508 average from the field is second in the GSC, while she is third in the league in free throw attempts (35 of 57).  Whalen is second in the league in total rebounds with 121 for 36^th nationally, while she is tops in the league in defensive rebounds per game (6.8) and fifth in offensive rebounds per game (2.5).  She leads the league in steals with 29 and third in steals per game at a 2.23 clip. 
 
Union enters the week with a 12-2 record overall and is atop the GSC standings with a 7-0 mark as it has won eight-straight games.  The Lady Bulldogs are coming off a 104-69 win over West Alabama on Saturday and a 66-62 win over Alabama Huntsville last Thursday.  In Saturday's game, Emily Jones scored a career-high 32 points. 
 
This season, the Lady Bulldogs lead the nation in bench points at 44.1 points per game, while they are third nationally in scoring offense at 85.4 points per game and lead the nation in 3-point field goal attempts per game at 33.0 on 165 of 462 from distance.  The 165 made triples lead the nation and the team averages 11.8 made 3-pointers per game and the .357 average from beyond the arc is tenth nationally.  Union is third nationally in turnover margin at 12.86, while it is sixth nationally in turnovers forced per game (28.1). 
 
Individually, Bethany Dillard is fifth nationally in made 3-pointers (42) for second in the league, while she is tenth nationally and third in the league in 3-pointers per game (3.0) and leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage at a .416 clip for 25^th nationally.  Jacalyn Anounsinh is fourth nationally in assist/turnover ratio at a 2.95 clip, while she is tops in the GSC in assists (56) for 40^th nationally.  Leading the team in scoring this season is Olivia Lee at 11.1 points per game on 55 of 119 from the field (.462).
 
Union leads the all-time series 16-7, but VSU won both meetings last season and have won four of the last six.  Thursday's game marks just the third meeting in Valdosta since 2018 as the teams have split ten meetings in Valdosta.  Union head coach Mark Campbell is 754-118 in his 26^th season of coaching with every season at Union. 
 
Christian Brothers enters the week with a 0-12 record overall and 0-7 in Gulf South Conference play as it will play at West Florida on Thursday evening, before visiting Titletown on Saturday.  CBU is coming off losses to West Alabama (76-68) and Alabama Huntsville (66-58) at home last weekend. 
 
This season, the Lady Bucs are led by Jada Hood who leads the team averaging 14.3 points per game as she is 55 of 162 from the field (.340) and a team-best 38 of 108 from distance (.352).  She is 23 of 32 from the line also leading the team in free throws made and attempted.  Hood leads the team averaging 4.2 rebounds per game.  She leads the team in assists (41) and steals (14).  Valencia McFall is second in scoring at 10.6 points per game.  McFall leads the team in field goal percentage at a .459 clip on 51 of 111.  She is second on the team in rebounding at 3.8 rebounds per game. 
 
As a team, the Lady Bucs are shooting at a .365 clip on 244 of 669 from the field, while they are 68 of 212 from distance (321) and 124 of 174 from the line (.713).  CBU is averaging 56.7 points per game and allowing 73.5, while averaging 30.3 rebounds per game and surrendering 38.3 per contest.
 
Head coach Addie Lees is in her second season at the helm of the program. She went 2-26 last season and is 2-38 for her career.  VSU has won 15 of the last 21 games dating back to 2010, including seven-straight in the series and nine of ten. CBU won 94-89 on Jan. 13, 2018, for the last victory for the Lady Bucs.