VALDOSTA, Ga. – With 5.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Valdosta State junior Erin Whalen hit a 3-pointer breaking a 59-59 tie for a thrilling 62-59 victory over visiting Palm Beach Atlantic Saturday afternoon at The Complex.
 
The Lady Blazers improved to 2-0 on the year, while PBA fell to 0-2.  Whalen finished with 17 points and ten rebounds for her second-straight double-double to begin the season.  She was 6 of 12 from the field, 3 of 4 from distance and 2 of 2 from the line.  Senior Aryana Hicks finished with 11 points on 4 of 7 from the field, 3 of 3 from the line and eight assists, along with a team-high three steals.  The game saw seven lead changes and five ties.  
 
PBA's KB Hadley hit two free throws with 52 seconds remaining giving the Sailfish a 57-56 lead and the first lead since halftime.  Lady Blazer sophomore Alina Martin put VSU up two 12 seconds later with a hoop-and-harm bucket, while PBA's Anabell Ellison tied the game at 59 with 27 seconds left.   VSU called a timeout and, with the shot clock off, drained the clock before Hicks found Whalen for the triple.  The Sailfish called a timeout and advanced the ball with two looks and both were misses.  
 
The Lady Blazers shot 39 percent from the field on 23 of 59 from the floor, while they were 6 of 18 from distance and a perfect 10 of 10 from the line.  PBA had three players in double figures led by Hadley and Ellison with 13 each, while Breeje Schuler added 11 points.  The Sailfish shot 43.4 percent for the game on 23 of 53 from the field, while they were 3 of 15 from distance and 10 of 13 from the line.  Both teams had 18 turnovers as VSU held a 23-20 lead in points off miscues.  
 
PBA jumped out to a 6-0 lead 2:30 into the contest as VSU began the game 0 of 4 from the field, before Hicks had the theft and fast break layup for a 6-2 score.  VSU pulled within 8-5 with six minutes left in the opening corner on a pocket triple from sophomore Ka'Miah Pryor with an assist from Hicks.  PBA used an "and one" from Anaya Smith off her own offensive rebound for an 11-5 lead with 4:55 to play in the first quarter.  
 
Two free throws from Whalen and a nice bucket from her on a cut to the rim pulled VSU within 11-9 with 3:35 remaining in the opening frame.  Whalen then fed sophomore Amaya Broadus for two tying the game at 11 moments later.    VSU tied the game at 13 with a midrange jumper from freshman Chardae Rumpf and a turnover on the Sailfish with a nice jumper from Rumpf at the other end game VSU its first lead of the game with less than a minute remaining in the frame.  Sophomore Alina Martin put VSU up 17-13 in the closing seconds and freshman Kendall Dykstra took a charge at the other end for a 17-13 VSU lead through ten minutes.  VSU opened the game 7 of 16 from the field, while holding PBA to 4 of 13 from the floor. 
 
Both teams started the second quarter cold going a combined 0-6 to begin the frame, but a nice steal from Hicks and score gave VSU its largest lead at 19-13 with seven minutes to play in the half.  A corner pocket 3-pointer from junior Alina Sapilak gave VSU a 22-15 lead with 5:23 remaining in the half and her first points as a Lady Blazer.  
 
Out of a media timeout, PBA's Maren McCallister hit a 3-pointer pulling the Sailfish within 22-18 with 4:38 to play in the half and PBA followed with another triple from KB Hadley.  Hadley gave PBA its first lead, since early in the game at 25-24 with 2:05 remaining in the half.  The lead was short lived, however, as Dykstra scored off an offensive rebound at the other end.  PBA took a 27-26 lead into the locker room. 
 
For the half, VSU shot 11 of 31 from the field for 35.5 percent, while it was 2 of 9 from deep and 2 of 2 from the line.  PBA was 10 of 30 from the field for 33.3 percent, while the Sailfish were 2 of 11 from distance and 5 of 5 from the line.  VSU was led by six points from Whalen I the half, while Hadley had 11 points for PBU.
 
Whalen scored the first points of the second half with a triple at the top of the arc and a 29-27 VSU lead with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.  Whalen hit another triple for a 32-27 score.  PBA scored off an offensive rebound and a timeout by the Sailfish with 6:24 left in the third.  Two quick buckets from the Lady Blazers pushed the lead to 36-29 with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter. 
 
Dykstra made two free throws for a 40-31 lead and the largest of the game for the Lady Blazers to that point with 3:17 remaining in the third.  Broadus extended the lead to 42-31 with a nice bucket in transition off the sixth assist from Hicks.  
 
Sophomore Alina Martin hit a triple late in the frame for a 45-37 lead through 30 minutes.  Sophomore Raeanne Eccleston scored in the paint for a 47-40 lead with eight minutes to play.  A steal and layup from PBA and a one free throw cut the VSU lead to 47-43 with 7:34 remaining.  
 
PBA pulled within 51-48 with five minutes to play on a triple from Maddie Wallhoff.  The Sailfish pulled within one at 51-50 with 4:02 to play.  Hicks earned the continuation and free throw for a 54-50 lead with 3:30 to play.   Two quick buckets from PBA tied the game at 54 with 2:38 remaining.  
 
The Lady Blazers continue at home with a 6 p.m. tip on Wednesday versus Georgia Southwestern at The Complex.

Stay up to date on all Blazer news by following @VState_Blazers on Instagram and X and by liking the "Valdosta State Blazers" Facebook page. The Blazer Athletics Mobile App is available on iTunes and Android featuring exclusive content, the latest news and updates, schedules, rosters, gameday notifications, and more.