VALDOSTA, Ga. - Lex Chatman led with her first double-double of the season, scoring 14 points while snatching 13 rebounds as the Georgia Southwestern women's basketball team fell, 82-66, to Valdosta State in overtime during the VSU Thanksgiving Tourney held at The Complex Friday evening.
GSW was outscored, 15-2, in overtime as Valdosta handed them their first loss of the season.
How It Happened: After a three minute scoring drought, a layup by Dominique Jeffery put GSW on the board, 2-0, in the first quarter but VSU quickly answered with a three by Kayla Bonilla to take the lead. Four minutes later, Morgan Towells drained a three of her own to retake the lead, 9-7, with 3:36 left in the first quarter. The Lady Hurricanes kept the lead going into the second quarter as they were up, 13-10.
A three by Bonilla opened the second quarter as she tied the game at 13. Jamesha Samuel followed suit, draining her sole three of the night as GSW retook the lead early in the second quarter. It took the Blazers only four minutes to get the lead back as a layup by Kayla Frey gave them a 19-18 lead midway through the first half. After trading leads, Delaney Bernard drained one from deep that gave VSU a 26-25 lead going into halftime.
Three minutes into the third quarter, Chatman drained a three that tied the game at 32. Jump shots by Tamecia Blue and Madison Johnson gave GSW a four point lead before VSU reluctantly tied the game again with three minutes remaining. Chatman drained another three to push the Lady Hurricanes up but Abby Rouse quickly responded with a three of her own. A late Blazer layup gave them a one point lead, 46-45, going into the fourth quarter.
VSU (5-1) took a five-point lead but a deep three by Kya Cochran cut the lead down to two points, 52-50, with 6:35 remaining in the fourth. After a quick steal, Blue was fouled as she gave GSW the lead while draining both of her free-throws, 60-59. Both teams exchanged leads but a late foul put the Blazers at the line where they drained two important free throws to push the game into overtime while tied at 67.
The Blazers controlled overtime as a layup by Chatman was the only points that GSW (4-1) were able to get in the remaining five minutes of the game.
Who Stood Out: Towells led GSW with 18 points as she also had three steals. Chatman, who drained four from deep, led with 14 points and 13 rebounds as she also had three steals. Blue picked up nine points while snatching six boards.
VSU finished with two players who had double-doubles. Bonilla led with 23 points and 12 rebounds while Cheray Saunders led with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
The Blazers also led, shooting 47.1 percent from the field while the Lady Hurricanes only shot 35.1 percent. They also out rebounded, 53-36, GSW but the Lady Hurricanes caused a total of 23 turnovers on the night.
Up Next: GSW will play Eckerd College to close out the VSU Thanksgiving Tournament with a 6 p.m. start time.