Valdosta State’s Jordan Waugh (22) drives the lane for a shot, while Coastal Georgia’s Maria Marshall (34) defends during the Lady Blazers’ 58-38 victory at the P.E. Complex.

For the Valdosta State women’s basketball team, today’s game against Fort Valley State in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament is a new sense of life.

After all, the Lady Blazers were ousted in the opening round of the Gulf South Conference tournament by rival North Alabama. Following the final-second loss to UNA, the VSU women were given three days to sit and wait to find out if their season would be extended by earning a bid into the NCAA tournament. On Sunday night, the Lady Blazers were awarded the sixth seed, pitting them against three seed Fort Valley State.

“It was a rough (loss),” Senior Brittany Ferguson said.

“For it to be a shot like that, to go from a loose ball rolling around to for us to get beat like that was pretty tough, knowing we could have played better. It is one thing to play your best and lose, but to think about what you could have done and to have that sit on your stomach while other people play is tough.”

With the recent loss to North Alabama behind them, the Lady Blazers haven’t forgotten the feeling that filled the locker room after the game, but they aren’t dwelling on it, either.

“I think the mood is very positive,” Valdosta State head coach Kiley Hill said. “This group was inconsolable (last) Thursday night. I mean, rightfully so, they couldn’t believe that it — we were in a state of shock. But, we are in a situation where we got some hope Sunday night where we get to go play.”

For Hill, he said the loss to North Alabama was tough, but he is excited about what his team can accomplish in the South Region tournament, citing the possible chance of winning the tournament and advancing the Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas.

“I think we are good enough to play for a national championship,” Hill said. “The national committee said so, and we are very positive about that.”

For the Lady Blazers to win and advance to Texas, it will take three victories in four days, a task that is sure to be tough for all eight teams in the tournament.

“Through our preseason, Coach has challenged us mentally, throughout the season he has challenged us mentally, so I think we are prepared to go through three games in four days,” Ferguson said. “Physically, we are just going to have to put our minds on it and hearts on it and just go play some basketball.”

Valdosta State and Fort Valley State met in the 2010 South Region tournament, a game the Lady Blazers won 50-49 in the final seconds, using an Amanda Haven jump shot. This year might be much of the same.

“Fort Valley is playing really well,” Hill said. “They have won 11 straight games and they won the SIAC tournament, but we also, on our end, have a lot to prove. We feel like we left a lot of the court in our last basketball game. So, when you have a second chance, you want to make the best of the opportunity.”

On the season, Fort Valley is led by Yasheeka Jones and Jasmine Birdsong, both of whom are averaging over 10 points per game. Meanwhile, Valdosta State is led by Ferguson, who is averaging 16.8 points per game, and Sczeny Hartry, who is averaging 11.7 points per game.

While Ferguson and Hartry have been a constant point of success this season for VSU, as the two were named to the All-South Region teams, other players have been hit and miss, as only two other players (Maylissa Johnson and Kourtnee Williams) scored in the loss to North Alabama.

“Well, I think we just worked through some stuff in a practice setting,” Hill said. “I don’t know if that accomplished much of anything. I just think that was one of those games where we just didn’t have anything happen.

“We don’t put too much of an emphasis towards it.”