MONTEVALLO, Al. — The Valdosta State women's basketball team dropped a 90-67 decision at Montevallo Saturday afternoon. The Lady Blazers fell to 14-6 overall and 6-6 in Gulf South Conference play, while Montevallo improved to 16-4 on the year and 10-2 in league play.
Turnovers were a big factor in the game as VSU turned the ball over 19 times and the Falcons capitalized for an 18-4 advantage in points off turnovers in the contest. VSU shot 44.8 percent for the game on 26 of 58 from the field, but was 6 of 22 from range and 9 of 17 from the line. Senior Cheray Saunders, junior Kayla Bonilla and sophomore Abby Rouse each had 11 points, while junior Nari Garner added ten points and junior Germani Abram had 11 rebounds.
Montevallo had 25 points from Shyan Flack on 12 of 22 from the field with seven rebounds, while Kiya Sain added 17 points and Aaliyah Rice chipped in 13 points. The Falcons shot 38 of 77 from the field, while draining eight triples and went 6 of 11 from the line. UM dominated inside to the tune of 50-32 in points in the paint.
The Lady Blazers shot well in the first two quarters, going 15 of 29 from the field for the first half as UM held a 47-39 lead at halftime. The Falcons shot 21 of 41 from the field in the first half for the game as both teams shot better than 50 percent.
Montevallo built the lead to 11 midway through the third quarter, but a triple from Rouse pulled VSU within 56-49 with 2:23 left in the frame. Two big triples late in the quarter gave Montevallo a 66-51 lead through three quarters as Savannah Lee and Marisa Snodgrass each hit from downtown in the final 1:16 of the quarter.
Rouse, who continued to work hard inside, scored the opening bucket of the fourth, but UM buried four treys in the fourth quarter and went 6 of 11 from distance in the second half for the 90-67 victory.
VSU returns home to host Shorter on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. at The Complex and then rival West Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.
