FORT VALLEY, GA (November 18, 2014) – Fort Valley State went to half up 36-34 and never looked back as the Lady Wildcats won 71-64 over the Lady Blazers of Valdosta State University in a re-match game Tuesday night at HPE Complex.
 
Fort Valley State increased their overall record to 1-2, while Valdosta State dropped to 1-2.
 
The teams played four days ago in Valdosta with a different outcome as Valdosta State won that game 81-71 in the Holiday Inn Classis.
 
The Lady Wildcats took a 5-4 lead off Davina High 3-pointer with 17:39 on the clock and never looked back. D'Ambria Thomas made a layup at the 9:02 mark to give FVSU its largest margin of nine (20-11) in the first half. With 3:32 remaining to half, VSU's Jo Bistrow layup cut the lead to 28-26, but FVSU quickly increased that lead back to 34-28. Maggie Davis layup for VSU with ten seconds to half cut FVSU's lead to 36-34 at intermission.
 
The Lady Wildcats shot 38.7 percent from the field for the first-half, converting 12-of-31 baskets. The Lady Blazers made 38.5 percent of their shots on 10-of-26 field goals.      
 
FVSU maintained control for the rest of the second half as their lead grew to 15 points on three occasions at 57-42 with 7:53 left in the game, 59-44 with 6:44 to go and 65-50 with 4:02 remaining. In VSU's final run they cut that lead to seven twice, 70-63 with twenty seconds to go and 71-64 with six second left.
 
The Lady Wildcats outscored VSU 35-30 in the final twenty minutes of the game, thanks to FVSU's 41.2 Percent shooting in the second-half (14-of-34). The Lady Blazers were held to 31.3 percent shooting (10-of-32).
  
Carmenonique Dawson and Brittnee Hazel scored 13 points apiece for the Lady Wildcats. Dawson was 4-of-10 from the field, 1-for-2 from 3-point land and drained 4-of-4 free-throws. Hazel went 5-for-13 from the floor and 3-of-4 at the charity line. D'Ambria Thomas, Kiara Baker and Shereba Montgomery added 9 points each. Hazel grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and recorded two blocked shots, Montgomery added 8 boards and Katice Williams another 6 rebounds and 6 points. Thomas and Antionna Jefferson dished out 3 assist each.    
 
Imari Simpson was the high scorer for VSU with 17 points, while April Thomas and Amy Duke added 13 points each. Duke had a team high 9 rebound and Thomas recorded seven steals.
 
The Lady Wildcats made 26 baskets in 65 attempts compared to VSU's 34.5 percent overall shooting (20-of-58).
 
FVSU was 14-of-19 from the free throw line (73.7 percent). VSU made 21-of-35 foul shots (60.0 percent).
 
The Lady Wildcats out rebounded the Lady Blazers 54-35.
 
FVSU next two games are home games with Columbus State University coming to campus on Thursday, November 20 at 6 p.m. and Florida Tech University on Saturday, November 22 at 1 p.m.