Valdosta State’s Brittany Ferguson attempts a jump shot during Thursday night’s game against Columbus State. Ferguson recorded her second straight double-double in the Lady Blazers’ 54-51 victory.

The Valdosta State women’s basketball will face North Alabama tonight at 8:30 p.m.. in the opening round of the Gulf South Conference basketball tournament in Niceville, Fla.

The Lady Blazers are 1-1 against UNA this season, using a final-second shot from Sczeny Hartry to secure the victory in the latest meeting. North Alabama beat Valdosta State in overtime in the first meeting of the season. The winner will face either West Georgia or Alabama-Huntsville in the conference semifinals on Saturday. The championship game will be held Sunday at noon (eastern), and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com.

Ferguson, Hartry named All-GSC

 The Gulf South Conference announced the women’s All-Conference team for the 2011-12 season Wednesday evening. Valdosta State was one of three schools to place two players on the team as Brittany Ferguson made the first team and Sczeny Hartry earned second team honors.

 Both players made the All-GSC squads last season, but in reverse. Hartry was the first teamer and Ferguson made second team. The duo flip flops this season.

Ferguson led all Gulf South players with five GSC Player of the Week awards this season. She is also tied for the lead in the conference in double-doubles with nine. GSC Player of the Year Veronica Walker from Delta State also has nine double-doubles.

 The senior forward is third in the GSC in scoring average (17.0 points per game) and second in the league in rebounds per game (8.7). She is also fifth in the conference in field goal percentage (.465) and eighth in free throw percentage (.640). At 2.3 steals per game, Ferguson ranks fourth in the GSC and seventh in blocks per game (0.8) and minutes played per game (31.3).

 Hartry has put together an All-GSC worthy season as well, leading the conference in three-pointers made (53). With all the three-point shooting, Hartry stayed efficient, ranking third in the GSC in three-point shooting percentage (.393).

The senior guard is 12th in scoring average (11.3 points per game) and third in the league in minutes played per game (34.3).

 The senior duo has led VSU to a third seed in the GSC Tournament to tip off Thursday. The Lady Blazers will face sixth seed North Alabama at 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. CST). Valdosta State is looking to make noise in the conference tournament, already notching victories over the top two seeds, Delta State and Alabama-Huntsville.

As mentioned, Walker was voted GSC Player of the Year. Alabama-Huntsville Head Coach Roy Heintz was named the GSC Coach of the Year while Rhandi Ball of Delta State earned GSC Freshman of the Year.

 In addition to Ferguson, Alabama-Huntsville guards Jasmine Hammon and Jordan Smith, West Georgia forward Shunice Hardy and Walker make up the All-GSC first team. Joining Hartry on the second team is West Alabama forward Brittany Weathers, Delta State guard Brooke Rhodes, West Florida guard Sher’Ryan Scott and North Alabama guard Jasmine Horne.