Valdosta State’s women’s basketball team improved to 3-2 with a 68-57 victory over Albany State on Tuesday night at The Complex.

Valdosta State took the lead five minutes into the game, and never relinquished it.

VSU came out aggressive on defense in the first half, forcing 14 turnovers and registering eight first half steals, four by Ferguson. The Lady Blazers’ defense opened up their offense, as they scored 14 points off of turnovers and 12 points on the break in the first half.

Five minutes into the game, with the score tied 4-4, Valdosta State’s Courtney Mitchell made a jump shot, giving the Lady Blazers the lead. Sczeny Hartry scored, then Brittany Ferguson made two free throws. Hartry forced a steal and finished on the other end for a lay-up to complete a quick 8-0 VSU run, which gave the Lady Blazers a 12-4 lead.

After their run, the Lady Blazers kept a steady 10-point lead throughout the rest of the first half. Valdosta State led by as many as 15 points in the first half, and held a 32-21 lead at halftime.

Valdosta State again built its lead to as many as 15 points in the second half, but Albany State slowly started chipping away at it. After a three-pointer from Valdosta State’s Brooke Satterfield, the Golden Rams went on a 7-0 run to cut VSU’s lead to eight with 8:37 left.

With just over four minutes remaining, Albany State was able to pull within four on free throws from Kedeemya Cooper. But Hartry answered with a run all on her own. She buried a three-pointer and a free throw after a steal from Ferguson. Satterfield stole the ball next and Hartry made another three-pointer to increase the Lady Blazers’ lead back to 11. Ferguson followed that with a lay-up to make it a 13-point lead with 2:09 left to play. Albany State would not threaten again.

Satterfield and Hartry combined for eight three-pointers in the second half. They shot 61.5 percent from three-point range after halftime. Hartry scored 13 points in the second half, and finished with a game-high 17 points. She also brought down five rebounds in 37 minutes of play.

Ferguson finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, and also led all players with seven steals. Maylisa Johnson added eight points, nine assists and six rebounds, and had four steals. Valdosta State shot 42.9 percent from the floor, and 36.4 percent from three-point range.

Symone Wilkerson led Albany State (0-1) with 17 points, and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. April Thomas added 16 points. The Lady Rams shot 43.2 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three-point range.

Valdosta State will next be in action against Palm Beach Atlantic at 2 p.m. on Dec. 3, then will revisit Albany State in Albany at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12. The Lady Blazers will return home to face Columbus State at 6 p.m. on Dec. 15.