VALDOSTA — The Valdosta State Lady Blazers (12-4, 3-1) improved to second in the GSC east with a 66-59 win over Alabama-Huntsville (7-8, 2-2) on Monday. The win was the second in a row for VSU.

“One of the biggest things to us is to go undefeated at home in the conference,” said head coach Kiley Hill. “Our home games are crucial.”

Alabama-Huntsville struck first with a jumper by Kellye Barr, but the Blazers would answer right back with a jumper by guard Traci Newton. The Chargers kept hitting shots and eventually took an eight-point lead on VSU with 12:08 left in the half.

The Lady Blazers stayed close thanks to perfect shooting from Janelle Collazo, who hit two three-pointers in less than one minute to bring the score to within four, 17-21. Then with 7:42 left in the first, Candice Ferrell took over.

Ferrell hit three straight shots and put the Blazers up for the first time in the game 25-24 with 5:15 remaining in the half. The Chargers answered back, and the two teams exchanged the lead five times in under a minute. VSU guard Rose Abreu hit a jumper with 3:42 left and started a 6-0 drive that lasted two minutes and would be the last time that the lead would change in the ball game.

The score at half-time was Valdosta 35, Alabama-Huntsville 33.

In the second half, the Lady Blazers turned up the pressure and owned the paint. VSU out-rebounded the Chargers, offensively 10-1, and overall 20-8 in the second half.

“Anytime you can get second chance points like that it’s big,” said coach Hill.

VSU started the half with a Ferrell steal that she took full court for a lay-up. After that, the Blazers scored 11 points compared to five for UAH. Ferrell continued her dominance scoring 15 points and pulling down six boards in the second half.

The Lady Blazers as a team were able to control the game not only on the boards, but on defense as well. VSU held the Chargers to only 26 points in the second half, most of which came in the last four minutes. With 1:06 left in the game, UAH got within four after one of the many three pointers by Jessica Russell, but it was not enough and the Lady Blazers held on for the win.

Ferrell led the Lady Blazers in scoring with 19 points. Collazo had 14 points, all of which were in the second half. Khaleh Thomas pulled down eight rebounds for the Blazers.

Russell went 7-of-14 from behind the arch and was the game’s leading scorer with 21 points.

VSU will be hosting West Alabama on Saturday, and tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.