CARROLLTON —
West Georgia proved to be too much for Valdosta State Thursday, as a 40-point second half led the Wolves past VSU, 67-44.
The loss dropped the Lady Blazers to 9-4 on the season and 2-3 in the Gulf South Conference. West Georgia improved to 8-4 overall and 2-2 in the GSC.
Brittney Nelson tallied her eighth double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Kamyia Smith and Kourtnee Williams combined for nine assists.
Those might have been the only positives for VSU on Thursday. The Lady Blazers allowed 20 points to JaDechia Hill, a player that was averaging 7.3 points per game. Valdosta State turned the ball over 23 times, while only forcing 10 turnovers. West Georgia had 14 steals. The Wolves also beat VSU on the boards, 39-35.
West Georgia had four players score in double figures. The Wolves shot 41.7 percent from three-point range.
West Georgia jumped out to a 9-2 lead. Nelson buried a three-pointer, followed by one from Brooke Satterfield to make it 11-8. The Wolves responded minutes later with a 6-0 run, and took a nine-point lead, their largest lead of the half.
Williams broke the run with a lay-up. West Georgia’s top scorer, Mone Peoples answered, but then the VSU defense locked down on the Wolves. Valdosta State didn’t let the Wolves score for more than six minutes, while going on a 12-0 run.
Nelson started the move, then Williams converted a three-point play. Nelson knocked down her second three-pointer of the game to pull VSU within one, 25-24.
After West Georgia called a timeout, the Lady Blazers forced a shot clock violation. Then Williams scored, giving VSU its first lead of the game, 26-25. Ashley Johnson made two free throws to make it 28-25 in her first action of the season. West Georgia was able to score once more before the half to make it a one-point game at the break.
West Georgia got hot early in the second half, and went on a 14-0 run. Satterfield finally broke the run when Nelson found her running ahead on the break for VSU’s first points of the second half nearly six minutes into it. Then Nelson scored another basket on a quick post move.
Down 45-32, the Lady Blazers started to make a move. Johnson hustled the floor for an intimidating block, then VSU found Kaylee Higginbotham in the post for two points. Next, Higginbotham joined the block party, and the Lady Blazers ran the floor to get Nelson a lay-up for four quick points to force a timeout from West Georgia.
The timeout was not enough to cool VSU. The Lady Blazers forced a turnover and found Smith in the corner for a three-pointer. After free throws from West Georgia, Higginbotham scored in the paint again, but the Wolves countered with a three-pointer from Peoples.
West Georgia would go on to build a lead as high as 23 points in the second half. It would prove to be too much for VSU to overcome.
Valdosta State continues Gulf South Conference play on Saturday, when it travels to Livingston, Ala. to face West Alabama at 3 p.m.
Local Sports
West Georgia women beat VSU, 67-44
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Win or go home
The Valdosta State softball team faces Armstrong Atlantic University in an elimination game for the 2013 Division II Softball Championship Tournament today at noon.
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HOOPER: An early look at the 2013 football season
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Blazers fall to Molloy in eight innings
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Powell signs with Shorter
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