Valdosta State’s Brittany Ferguson (21) takes a shot against Flagler. The Lady Blazers made it to the Sweet Sixteen last season.

West Florida’s women’s basketball team challenged Valdosta State in the final game of the regular season, but the Lady Blazers hung on to win 53-50, and improved to 20-6 on the season and 10-4 in the Gulf South Conference.

Brittany Ferguson led VSU in scoring and rebounding with 17 points and eight rebounds. Sczeny Hartry chipped in 12 points, but nearly every one came right when the Lady Blazers needed it most. Brittney Nelson finished with six points, six rebounds, a block and a steal, while Maylisa Johnson finished with eight points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Courtney Mitchell saved VSU from the charity stripe for the second consecutive game. Mitchell also put together a strong defensive effort against one of West Florida’s most dangerous players, Octavia Bearden. Adding to Valdosta State’s defensive effort was Hartry, with a great individual performance against West Florida’s leading scorer, Sher’Ryan Scott.

Valdosta State jumped out to an early 13-3 lead before West Florida could even make a field goal. Bearden finally broke the drought for West Florida at the 12:18 mark.

West Florida went on a bit of a run, but the scoring stopped for the Argonauts after two Scott baskets with 5:34 left in the half. West Florida pulled within six, but the Lady Blazers took advantage of another UWF scoring drought, going on an 8-0 run in the final five minutes of the half to claim a 30-14 advantage at the break.

The Argonauts came out with a renewed vigor to start the second half, going on a 14-4 run to pull within six points of VSU, before Lady Blazers head coach Kiley Hill called a timeout to slow the momentum.

After going scoreless in the first half, West Florida’s second-leading scorer, Hanna Vette, scored five points to spark UWF’s second half-opening run.

Nelson scored a three-pointer out of the timeout to stop the Argonauts’ run, momentarily at least. West Florida continued to pursue, pulling within four points of the Lady Blazers by the second media timeout with 9:44 left to play.

Both teams continued to trade baskets throughout much of the half, with West Florida keeping it close, 45-40, with 6:12 left in the game. The Argonauts scored next on a Scott layup to make it a one-possession game with 4:40 left, then Vette tied the game on the next possession with a three-pointer.

In what is becoming a habit for Mitchell, she came through at an important point for VSU with a jumper from the short corner to break the tie. Scott answered with another layup down the right side to tie it up again for West Florida.

Off of a UWF timeout, Valdosta State ran a play to perfection. Hartry received the ball at the top of the key and found Ferguson for a post-up. Ferguson spun and faded away to snag another VSU lead and force another West Florida timeout.

Both teams traded baskets down the stretch. West Florida opened up a lane down the left baseline for Erica Wright to tie the game again on a layup with 58 seconds left.

Valdosta State used most of the shot clock on the ensuing possession, with Hartry finishing for the Lady Blazers with an up and under move to claim another VSU lead, 51-49, with just over 30 seconds left.

The Lady Blazers looked to have forced a turnover on West Florida’s next possession, but Scott drew a foul. Scott, a 62.2 percent free throw shooter, could only make one from the charity stripe, making it 51-50. Mitchell brought down the rebound on Scott’s miss and the Argonauts fouled her.

Just like at West Georgia, Mitchell’s free throws were much needed by VSU. She buried them both.

West Florida was able to get a good look for Vette from three-point land on the final possession, but her shot hit the front iron and Nelson brought down the rebound to clinch the game for VSU.

With the regular season over, Valdosta State now prepares for the Gulf South Conference Tournament, which tips off Thursday.