Lady Blazers outlast Argos 51-48 Saturday night

Trailing by three points with only four seconds left in regulation, West Florida had one more chance.

Upon a quick inbound, Argos guard Tessah Holt had a fair look from the top of the key. Her potential game tying trifecta clanked off the rim as time expired.

The Lady Blazers outlasted the Argos 51-48 Saturday night in the P.E. Complex, which improves them to 5-1 and 1-0 in Gulf South Conference play.

Valdosta State came out victorious coming off a two-week hiatus and they did it without senior starter Maylisa Johnson (ACL).

Guard Courtney Sprague, who started all 27 games last season, cracked the starting rotation for the first time this season in her absence.

Throughout the contest the score never favored either team for too long and it came down to the final siren – the typical GSC nail-bitter.

“I think it was a nail-bitter because we had two teams that had been off for 14 straight days. I give some credit to [UWF] we got flustered and we didn't counter that really well. But eventually we grind[ed] it out and made some tremendous hustle plays. A team effort of role players did great things,” head coach Kiley Hill said.

VSU guard April Thomas led the way with a game-high 15 points and Kamiya Smith added 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Both teams battled in the first half; the lead changed seven times.

Kamyia Smith finished with 13 points and 9 rebounds. 

Following an Amy Duke jumper, VSU gained a 25-18 lead, which was its largest of the first half.

Intermission came three minutes later – UWF trailed 25-20.

Lady Blazers sixth-woman and leading scorer Thomas struggled to produce in the first period (4 points 4 turnovers). Yet, her 11 point performance after halftime was exactly what her team needed to help secure their first win in nearly three weeks.

During the second half, the Lady Blazers made great attempts to run away with game as they had a couple of scoring spurts.

Ten minutes remaining and VSU had its largest lead of the game at 43-32.

The Argos wouldn't surrender without a fight though. In the next couple minutes, UWF rallied going on a 11-3 run to give themselves a viable chance at a comeback win on the road.

Less than two minutes left in the game, the Lady Blazers held a three-point lead after Argo guard Toynetta Johnson sank two free throws.

Smith was stripped on the ensuing VSU possession but UWF guard Katie Bobos missed a crucial wide-open layup on the turnover fast break.

Another late turnover by April Thomas and the Argos would take advantage this time.

Thirty seconds later from missing a layup, Bobos took a shot of redemption as she drove through the lane.

This attempt was more contested than her last but she made the bucket anyway and was fouled in the process. Her three-point play tied the game up at 48 with a minute left to play.

On VSU's ensuing possession, Smith was fouled and drained both from the charity stripe.

Smith was sent to the line again after rebounding Johnson's desperate heave. Smith made the first and missed the second.

The Argos were left with 17 seconds to make something happen.

Fresh out the timeout, Bobos tried to come up with another clutch play when she pulled up for the game tying three-pointer.

Luckily, her shot bounced off rim into the hands of her teammate. T. Johnson snapped a pass to Holt for another shot from behind the arc. Holt missed but again the Argos came up with another vital offensive rebound.

The Argos finished with 10 more offensive rebounds than the Lady Blazers, which assisted in their rally late.

The clock stopped at four seconds left and UWF coach Stephanie Yelton called a timeout to draw up one final scheme – but to no avail.

VSU hits the road next week when they take on Lee Dec. 19.