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Tazsa Garrett-Hammett
Joe Chance
74
West Alabama UWA 5-7, 1-3 GSC
85
Winner Valdosta State VSU 8-3, 2-1 GSC
West Alabama UWA
5-7, 1-3 GSC
74
Final
85
Valdosta State VSU
8-3, 2-1 GSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
West Alabama UWA 20 22 9 23 74
Valdosta State VSU 10 21 22 32 85

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Montevallo

1/4/2018 | 5:30 p.m.

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Jan. 04 (Thu) / 5:30 p.m.
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Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Valdosta State Comes from Way Back to Down UWA, 85-74

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State erased a 19-point West Alabama lead on the way to an 85-74 Gulf South Conference women's basketball victory over West Alabama Monday at The Complex on the VSU campus.
 
The win extends Valdosta State's win streak to four games, improving the Lady Blazers to 8-3 overall, 2-1 in GSC play. West Alabama goes to the holiday break 5-7 and 2-3.
 
West Alabama came out of the gate roaring, building a 20-10 lead after the first quarter and stretching that advantage to 19 points (37-18) with 5:31 left in the second quarter. The Tigers led 42-31 at the half.
 
Valdosta State, the defending GSC Tournament champs and the preseason league favorite, turned the table on the Tigers, outscoring the visitors 32-9 in the third quarter and by 22 points in the second half.
 
"We got in some foul trouble late it the first half after we had things going well," UWA head coach Rusty Cram said. "They are the defending league champs and we knew they would come out and throw a punch in the second half.
 
"They came out swinging and we didn't respond,' Cram said. "We just stood there and took it."
 
Neither team shot well from the floor, with both the Tigers and Lady Blazers converting just 37 percent. Neither UWA or VSU could muster 30 percent from behind the three-point arc. Both shot free throws well, with UWA converting 16-of-20 (80 percent) and VSU making 34-of-42 (81 percent).
 
Tazsa Garrett-Hammett scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead West Alabama, notching her second double-double of the season before fouling out with 6:11 to play. The true freshman from LaGrange, Georgia, averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds on the two-game road swing prior to the holiday break.
 
"I told Tazsa before the game that she had a chance to score 30 because of the way they were going to play her," Cram said. "Needless to say, her fouling out hurt us."
 
Kierra Groce was the only other Tiger in double figures with 13 points. Chloe Culpepper had eight rebounds and blocked three shots for the Tigers.
 
Madi Mitchell recorded a double-double for Valdosta State by scoring 23 points and getting 16 rebounds. She was 13-of-16 from the free throw line.
 
Aaliyah Cheatham followed Mitchell with 22 points. Kayla Bonilla and Taylor Buie chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
West Alabama does not return to action until Jan. 4 when Montevallo visits Pruitt Hall Gym on the UWA campus. Valdosta State travels to Lee on Jan. 2.
 
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Players Mentioned

Chloe Culpepper

#23 Chloe Culpepper

C
6' 0"
Junior
Kierra Groce

#4 Kierra Groce

G
5' 4"
Junior
Tazsa Garrett-Hammett

#1 Tazsa Garrett-Hammett

G
5' 11"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Chloe Culpepper

#23 Chloe Culpepper

6' 0"
Junior
C
Kierra Groce

#4 Kierra Groce

5' 4"
Junior
G
Tazsa Garrett-Hammett

#1 Tazsa Garrett-Hammett

5' 11"
Freshman
G