VALDOSTA, Ga. – Playing in her final home game, Brittney Nelson hit a three-pointer with 41 seconds to play to lift Valdosta State to a 68-65 over West Florida in Gulf South Conference women's basketball action at The Complex Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Valdosta State improved to 15-9 overall and 8-8 in GSC play while West Florida fell to 6-18 and 3-13.
VSU jumped out to an early lead as the Lady Blazers made four of their first five field goal attempts of the game. Kamyia Smith opened the game with a lay-up off an assist from Courtney Sprague, who also fed Kourtnee Williams for a three-pointer. Nelson added a three from the right corner and, after Hanna Vette scored for West Florida, hit a jumper to give Valdosta State a 10-2 lead less three minutes into the contest.
The Lady Blazer lead grew to as high as 26-10 over the next 11 minutes before West Florida fought back with a 12-0 run to get within four points with 3:20 to play in the half. Emily Erland hit a pair of buckets to spur the run while Sarah Gradel also scored four points on a three-pointer and a free throw.
The Argonauts continued their comeback as they eventually tied the game at 29-29 before grabbing a 32-31 halftime lead.
West Florida led for much of the second half before Nelson connected on a three-pointer with 4:25 to play in the game to put Valdosta State in front. The next three minutes featured a pair of ties before UWF gained its last lead of the game on a Vette three-point play with 59 seconds to play. However, Nelson answered with her game-winning shot 18 seconds later.
Nelson and Williams each scored 18 points to lead Valdosta State while Ashley Johnson added 13. The Lady Blazers made 22-of-55 shots to shoot 40.0 percent from the floor in the game and had 12 steals, to overcome a 49-32 West Florida advantage in rebounding in the game.
Erland scored 20 points to lead West Florida while Vette added 19 and Toynetta Johnson 10.
The Lady Blazers return to action Thursday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m. when they travel to Christian Brothers.
With the win, Valdosta State improved to 15-9 overall and 8-8 in GSC play while West Florida fell to 6-18 and 3-13.
VSU jumped out to an early lead as the Lady Blazers made four of their first five field goal attempts of the game. Kamyia Smith opened the game with a lay-up off an assist from Courtney Sprague, who also fed Kourtnee Williams for a three-pointer. Nelson added a three from the right corner and, after Hanna Vette scored for West Florida, hit a jumper to give Valdosta State a 10-2 lead less three minutes into the contest.
The Lady Blazer lead grew to as high as 26-10 over the next 11 minutes before West Florida fought back with a 12-0 run to get within four points with 3:20 to play in the half. Emily Erland hit a pair of buckets to spur the run while Sarah Gradel also scored four points on a three-pointer and a free throw.
The Argonauts continued their comeback as they eventually tied the game at 29-29 before grabbing a 32-31 halftime lead.
West Florida led for much of the second half before Nelson connected on a three-pointer with 4:25 to play in the game to put Valdosta State in front. The next three minutes featured a pair of ties before UWF gained its last lead of the game on a Vette three-point play with 59 seconds to play. However, Nelson answered with her game-winning shot 18 seconds later.
Nelson and Williams each scored 18 points to lead Valdosta State while Ashley Johnson added 13. The Lady Blazers made 22-of-55 shots to shoot 40.0 percent from the floor in the game and had 12 steals, to overcome a 49-32 West Florida advantage in rebounding in the game.
Erland scored 20 points to lead West Florida while Vette added 19 and Toynetta Johnson 10.
The Lady Blazers return to action Thursday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m. when they travel to Christian Brothers.
