VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State women's basketball team improved to 11-10 (8-7 Gulf South Conference) on Thursday night, holding off Lee 68-65 in a back-and-forth battle at the Complex. The second-place Flames fell to 15-6 (11-5 GSC).
The Lady Blazers used great defense and efficient scoring to ride out to an 18-8 advantage in the first period. The side also managed to stick Lee's star player, forward Anna Muhonen, in foul trouble early in the game. Lee clawed back on offense in the second period, but VSU held a 31-29 advantage at the break. The game remained just as close throughout the second half, with neither side building a lead greater than a ten-point VSU advantage on the way to a 68-65 Lady Blazer win.
Valdosta State needed a team scoring effort to secure the crucial conference win. Four players scored in double-figures for VSU tonight, led by a 13-point performance from sophomore Alina Martin off the bench. Sophomore Raeanne Eccleston followed closely with 12 points, while junior Erin Whalen filled up the stat sheet with ten points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Freshman Kaci Demps provided a spark off the bench in the biggest game of her freshman season, scoring ten points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting effort including a clutch and-one finish at the rim.
Lee made one final push in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to a single possession in the closing minutes, but the Lady Blazers executed down the stretch and came up with key defensive stops to seal the win. The Lady Blazer defense held Lee scoreless for the final 1:53 of regulation.
The Flames were led in scoring by Baylee Delbridge with 17 points on 50% shooting. Abby McFarland followed closely with 14. Anna Muhonen added nine points and seven rebounds.
Looking Forward
The Lady Blazers will play at home again this weekend, returning to the Complex on Saturday for a 2 p.m. matchup against Trevecca Nazarene (14-7, 11-5 GSC). Saturday's contest is both SGMC Day and Youth Day, with kids 12 and under receiving free admission.
Find live stats, written coverage, streaming links, and more on vstateblazers.com and follow @VState_Blazers as well as @VSULadyBlazers to stay up to date with the team as they fight through the core of GSC play.
