Thanks to contributions throughout the roster and halftime adjustments, Valdosta State’s women’s basketball team moved to 5-2 on the season with a 66-64 victory over Albany State on Monday night.

Senior guard Sczeny Hartry scored 18 timely points to lead the Lady Blazers. Brittany Ferguson had a double-double, with 15 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. Jordan Waugh also dropped double digits with 11 points, including nine in the first half. Courtney Mitchell scored nine second half points, and she finished with nine rebounds.

In addition to scoring and rebounding, VSU saw contributions come in many ways. Kourtnee Williams recorded six assists in the game, while Maylisa Johnson tallied four steals.

Albany State came out with a quick jumper and a three-pointer, and took an early 5-0 lead. Hartry answered with a three-pointer of her own. Kourtnee Williams hit another three-pointer to pull Valdosta State within one, 7-6. The Golden Rams went on a short run to push the score to 11-6, but the Lady Blazers started to hit their offensive stride after that.

Hartry hit a jump shot, followed by two baskets from Ferguson. Then Maylisa Johnson drove strong to the basket to give VSU its first lead of the game, 14-13, with 11:14 to play.

The frantic scoring pace suited Albany State in the early going, and the Golden Rams built a 27-18 lead. Hartry and Waugh helped Valdosta State battle back. They hit back-to-back three-pointers, followed by a Waugh free throw. Hartry scored next to tie it at 27-27.

Albany State finally made a basket to break the 9-0 run, but Waugh dropped another three-pointer and a lay-up on the break after a steal to give VSU another lead, 32-29. In the final 1:19 of the first half, Albany State would hit two baskets to Valdosta State’s one, and the game was tied 34-34 at halftime.

Halfway through the second half, ASU held a four-point lead. Then, with 9:34 left to play, Johnson found Hartry streaking to the basket out of a timeout. Hartry finished the tough lay-up and made a free throw to complete the three-point play, which pulled the Lady Blazers within one, 53-52. Brasheia Shepherd made a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, giving Albany State another four-point lead.

For a five-minute stretch, VSU’s only baskets were three shots from Mitchell to stay in the game. After a free throw from Ferguson to follow Mitchell’s run, the Lady Blazers were only down one. Johnson followed with another driving lay-up to give VSU the lead, 61-60, with 2:38 left in the game.

With just 1:47 left to play and just three seconds left on the shot clock, Hartry buried her third long ball of the night from the top of the key to gain a four-point lead for Valdosta State, 64-60. After that, each team made a basket: a free throw for VSU and a field goal for Albany State to make it a three-point game in favor of VSU, 65-62, with 1:17 left to play.

With 13.1 seconds left, Mitchell gave her team a four-point lead with a free throw, but Valdosta State fouled ASU three-point shooter Kourtney Alexander. She made two of her three free throws to pull the Golden Rams within two, 66-64. On the inbounds play for Valdosta State, Johnson found Waugh running to the opposite baseline. Waugh held the ball long enough to kill the rest of the clock and secure the Lady Blazers’ 66-64 win.

After committing 11 first half turnovers, to just six for Albany State, Valdosta State took better care of the ball in the second half. In the second half, the Lady Blazers only turned it over eight times, compared to 11 turnovers for the Golden Rams. Albany State only stole the ball three times in the second half, compared to seven first half steals. Meanwhile, VSU jumped from five steals in the first half to seven in the second half.

The biggest second half adjustment from Valdosta State might have come against ASU’s Breanna Fields. After Fields scored 12 first half points, VSU did not allow her another point in the second half.

Valdosta State shot a red hot 41.3 percent overall for the game, with a 48.1 percent shooting percentage in the first half. Albany State finished at 44.2 percent.

Alexander led the Golden Rams in scoring with 17 points. Three others scored double-digits. Symone Wilkerson gave five assists with four steals.

Valdosta State returns to The Complex to face Columbus State and Coastal Georgia in the Days INNvitational Tournament at 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday.