CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Valdosta State University held the Delta State University women's basketball team 25 points below its seasonal average, as the Lady Blazers (20-9) claimed a 54-46 victory over the Lady Statesmen (18-10) in the first round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament on Tuesday, March 5 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Maddy Corazza led VSU and all scorers with 15 points while
Quantesha Patterson paced DSU with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Valdosta State advances to face top-seed Union University on Saturday, March 9 in the semifinals at the Pete Hannah Center in Birmingham, Ala., on the campus of Samford University.
THE BASICS:
Score: Valdosta State 54 | Delta State 46
Records: Lady Statesmen 18-10 (No. 4) | Blazers 20-9 (N0. 5)
Series: Delta State leads 39-11
Location | Time: Sillers Coliseum | 6:30 PM
Social: Twitter - @DeltaStateWBB | Facebook – DSUStatesmen | Instagram – DSUAthletics
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Valdosta State jumped out to an early 11-4 lead on the strength of its outside shooting, as Maddy Coraza and Crystal Townsend connected from deep.
- After falling behind by six, 13-7, the Lady Statesmen ended the first quarter on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the night, 14-13.
- VSU switched to the zone defense to start the second quarter and immediately recaptured the lead on Coraza's second 3-pointer of the night.
- Sonya Franklin and Kayla Bonilla kept the momentum going for VSU, as the Lady Blazers built a 21-14 lead with 4:29 to play in the second quarter.
- Zyaire Ewing's 14-foot jumper ended the Lady Blazers run and cut the lead to five, 21-16, with 3:58 to play in the half.
- VSU ended the first half on a 4-2 run to head into the locker room with a 26-18 lead, matching their largest of the night. The Lady Blazers were 5-of-11 from 3-point range in the first half.
- Franklin led VSU with seven at the half while Quantesha Patterson and Alondrea Rush had five apiece for the Lady Statesmen.
- The Lady Blazers kept the pressure on DSU, extending their lead back to eight, 33-25, with 6:07 to play in the third quarter.
- Frederica Haywood and Rush's back-to-back baskets cut it to four points with 5:09 to play in the third.
- Both teams traded baskets to end the third with the Lady Blazers holding a 39-34 edge.
- VSU found answers for every Lady Statesmen run, maintaining leads of eight points for most of the fourth quarter.
- A 7-2 Lady Statesmen run cut the deficit to three, 46-43, with 3:11 to play.
- Valdosta State closed out the game scoring eight points to make the final margin, 54-46.
- Corazza led VSU and all scorers with 15 points. Sonya Franklin added 13 points while Crystal Townsend joined them in double figures with 10 points.
- Patterson led the Lady Statesmen with 13 points and 10 boards. Nia Johnson had 12 points as well.
TURNING POINT
- Valdosta State outscored Delta State 13-4 in the second quarter to a 26-20 halftime advantage.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Alondrea Rush scored eight points to move her career scoring total to 1,191 (29th). The Horn Lake, Miss., native made 2-of-9 from 3-point range on the night to remain ranked second in 3-pointers made (213) and she past Chelsey Rhodes (616) for second all-time in 3-pointers attempted.
- Patterson's double-double was her seventh this season.
