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Lady Blazers Down Choctaws in Closing Seconds on the Road, 58-54

Lady Blazers Down Choctaws in Closing Seconds on the Road, 58-54
Posted at 11:18 PM, Jan 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-01 16:39:21-04

CLINTON, Miss. – Behind 17 points from sophomore Kayla Bonilla and two free throws with three seconds remaining, the Valdosta State women's basketball team downed Mississippi College 58-54 on the road Thursday evening.  Bonilla finished 5 of 8 from the field with three triples and four free throws to lead three Lady Blazers in double figures.

 

For the game, Valdosta State (10-5, 4-3 GSC) shot 19 of 46 from the field for 41.3 percent, while going 9 of 17 from beyond the arc and 11 of 28 from the line.  Senior Crystal Townsend added 14 points on 4 of 8 from the field with two triples and four free throws, while junior Nari Garner added 13 points off the bench on four triples and one free throw. 

 

VSU held Mississippi College (5-7, 1-5 GSC) to just 28.6 percent on 20 of 70 from the field, while the Choctaws were 4 of 15 from range and 10 of 15 from the line.  MC outrebounded VSU 47-38, including 23-8 on the offensive end, but VSU led 5-4 in second chance points.  The teams combined for 45 miscues in the game.

 

The Choctaws were led by 15 points from Zariah Matthews on 5 of 11 from the field with three triples and two free throws leading three players in double figures.  Kirsten Thompson had a game-high 10 rebounds. 

 

VSU 42-41 heading into the final frame and held MC to just 5 of 19 from the field (.263) in the final frame, while the Lady Blazers went 5 of 10, including 4 of 6 from range in the fourth quarter to pull out the win.  The only two made free throws in the fourth quarter by VSU were the two Bonilla made with three seconds left as the team went 2 of 6 from the line for the quarter.

 

The Lady Blazers led by five points twice in the first quarter as junior Nari Garner buried a triple at the buzzer for an 18-12 lead and the largest of the game to that point.  Sophomore Kayla Bonilla stretched the lead to 10 at 22-12 with a triple early in the second quarter and senior Shon Kitchens pushed the lead to 24-12 with 7:24 left on a layup off a steal from senior Crystal Townsend.

 

Mississippi College used a 7-0 run and cut the deficit to 24-19 with 4:57 left, but Townsend answered with a triple at the other end, but the Lady Blazers struggled down the stretch, missing their last five field goals and went 2 of their final 10.  VSU went scoreless over the final 2:13 of the half as the Lady Blazers held a 30-25 lead at intermission.

 

VSU continues on the road on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Delta State.  Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming and radio broadcast of the game at vstateblazers.com on the women's basketball schedule page.  Spencer Van Horn will have play-by-play coverage of the game on 92.1 FM WDDQ .  Check back following the game for a complete recap and stats.