LIVINGSTON, Ala. —
West Alabama’s women’s basketball team outscored Valdosta State 35-22 in the second half, and earned a 58-46 victory on Saturday.
The loss drops VSU to 9-5 on the season and 2-4 in the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama improves to 8-5 on the season and 3-2 in league play.
West Alabama guard Nikkia Jordan had a big game, scoring 37 of the Tigers’ 58 points. No other Tiger scored more than six points or made more than two field goals in the game.
For Valdosta State, Brittney Nelson tallied team highs with 13 points and eight rebounds. She also had two steals, two assists and a block.
Kourtnee Williams added 10 points for VSU. Courtney Sprague had nine points and six rebounds.
Valdosta State started fast in the game, racing out to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game. Brooke Satterfield opened the scoring with a three-pointer and Williams followed it with another one from the top of the key. Jordan scored for West Alabama, but Sprague gave VSU a six-point lead with a layup.
After the media timeout, West Alabama went on an 8-0 run before Jasmine Mapp stopped it with a layup. Jordan scored four of the eight points in the run.
Sprague was able to regain the lead for Valdosta State, 11-10, with a free throw with 10:58 left in the first half. Nelson followed with a three-pointer to give the Lady Blazers a 14-10 lead.
West Alabama responded a 7-1 run — with Jordan scoring all seven points — and took a 17-15 lead. Nelson responded with a steal on the perimeter and raced in for a lay-up to tie the score, 17-17.
Valdosta State held a 24-23 lead at halftime.
Jordan scored 17 of UWA’s 23 points in the first half.
Ashley Johnson scored the first five points of the half for the Lady Blazers, helping VSU extend its lead to 29-25.
Then West Alabama head coach Craig Roden picked up a technical foul, which appeared to fire up the Tigers. After VSU missed both technical foul free throws, UWA went on a 10-0 run and took a 33-29 lead.
Sprague finally broke the momentum with a basket from the short corner to bring VSU within four, 35-31, with 10:15 left to play.
But unfortunately for VSU, Jordan came alive again. She went on a 14-0 run of her own, and helped the Tigers build a 10-point lead, 41-31, with 8:33 left to play.
The teams traded baskets, then Valdosta State got three-pointers from Nelson, Satterfield and Williams to pull within four, 46-42, with just over four minutes to play.
But West Alabama got another basket from Jordan, then Lanita Futrell made a three-pointer from the corner for her first points of the game. That gave the Tigers a 51-42 lead, and it proved to be too much for VSU to overcome.
Next Saturday, Valdosta State will travel to Pensacola, Fla. to face West Florida in another Gulf South Conference women’s basketball game. The game will begin at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
Local Sports
Lady Blazers fall to West Alabama
Jordan’s 37 points lead Tigers to 58-46 victory
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