VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State University's Jo Bistrow shot 4-of-8 from the 3-point line and totaled 15 points to lead the Blazers to 65-49 victory over the University of West Alabama in Gulf South Conference women's basketball action at The Complex on Thursday.

Valdosta State improves to 13-13 overall and 9-11 in the GSC. West Alabama drops its fifth consecutive contest to fall to 10-14 and 7-13.   

The Blazers took advantage of six Tiger turnovers through the opening 10 minutes of regulation jump out to a 13-4 lead. UWA closed the deficit to five points in the following two minutes, but hot 3-point shooting from VSU's Jo Bistrow lifted the Blazers to a 33-20 lead at the break. Bistrow was 3-of-3 from the 3-point line in the final seven minutes after her squad had failed to make a 3-point shot in seven attempts to start the game.

The Tigers improved from shooting 8-of-29 from the field in the first half to 8-of-15 in the second but failed to make a 3-point shot in the game. Valdosta State finished 5-of-18 from the 3-point line. UWA totaled 19 turnovers, giving up only three in the second half.  

"That is not our brand of basketball," said UWA head coach Rusty Cram. "It was an embarrassing performance. We were not in the game mentally and we played timid. There are not many positives from tonight, but we're not going to make excuses. Valdosta State just wanted the game a lot more than we did."

Jasmine Hampton led UWA with 14, falling only two points shy of matching her season best. Hampton was 5-of-7 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, while matching Britney McCloud as the rebound leader with five. Kelcia Bufkin followed with 13 points.

Jordan Waugh and Maggie Davis trailed Bistrow with 12 points each. Davis tallied a double-double with 10 rebounds.

West Alabama will return to action Saturday to take on West Florida in Pensacola, Fla. before wrapping up the regular season at West Georgia on Feb. 26. Tipoff against UWF is scheduled for 2 p.m.