VALDOSTA, Ga.-Host Valdosta State used two 10-0 second-half runs to pull away from the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs as they won 80-70 Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Lady Blazers (16-8, 13-5 GSC) began to take control late in the second quarter as a 14-2 run opened a 41-27 lead on an Aaliyah Cheatham jumper with 26 seconds remaining in the first half.
• CBU (12-10, 9-9) pared the deficit back to six as a 10-2 run capped by a
Rachel Lee (Jackson, Tenn./Jackson Christian School) layup brought them within 43-37 with 5:38 remaining.
• Valdosta's first 10-0 run came at the end of the third, capped by a Cassie Geopfert triple that gave them a 55-39 lead going to the fourth.
• The second 10-0 burst came early in the fourth quarter as the Lady Blazers stretched their lead to 67-43 on a Madi Mitchell layup with 6:00 remaining.
• The Lady Bucs answered with a 16-3 run to close within 70-59 on a
Mikaela Blissett (Oran, Mo./Scott County Central HS) layup with 2:11 remaining. CBU cut the deficit to 10 points five times in the final two minutes, but they were unable to come closer.
KEY STATS:
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Samantha Reeves (Somerville, Tenn./Fayette Academy) scored a game-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds before fouling out in 29 minutes.
• Lee added 14 points with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. She finished 5-of-11 overall, including 2-of-3 from three-point range.
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Courtney Banks (Memphis, Tenn./White Station HS) scored 13 points with three rebounds.
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Madison Luckett (Memphis, Tenn./St. Benedict HS) scored nine points with seven rebounds and two steals.
• The Lady Bucs shot 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the floor, including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range. Valdosta State shot 52.8 percent (28-of-53), including 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from beyond the arc.
• The Lady Blazers out-rebounded CBU 34-31. The Lady Bucs held a 9-5 edge in offensive rebounds and forced 14 Valdosta turnovers while committing nine.
GSC TOURNAMENT PICTURE:
With the loss, the Lady Bucs slip to sixth place in the GSC standings with four games to play. West Florida (14-4) and Valdosta State (12-6) have clinched GSC Tournament berths, followed by Lee (12-6), North Alabama (11-7) and West Georgia (10-7). Union, Mississippi College and Delta State are in a three-way tie for seventh place at 8-10, followed by Shorter in 10th at 7-11.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Bucs close out the regular season with three of their last four games at home, beginning Thursday night at 5 p.m. when they host Mississippi College.
