VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State used a dominating first half of play to defeat Florida Southern 62-53 in non-conference women's basketball action at The Complex Thursday evening.
 
Valdosta State (2-2) raced out to a big lead in the game as the Lady Blazers scored 16 of the first 18 points of the game. After Florida Southern's Gianna Vastola hit a lay-up to open the scoring, Maylisa Johnson answered with a bucket for VSU before Jordan Waugh added a Lady Blazer bucket to put Valdosta State in front. Imari Simpson added a pair of free throws and April Thomas added a three-pointer before Johnson added a pair of charity shots. Jo Bristow also hit a trifecta and Waugh closed out the opening run with a lay-up to put the Lady Blazers in front 16-2 just over four minutes into the contest.
 
Valdosta State's hot shooting continued over the coming minutes as the Lady Blazers made eight of their first 10 field goals of the game. VSU's advantage grew to as much as 34-11 with 7:30 to go in the first half.
 
The Mocs (2-1) put together their only real run of the half over the course of the remainder of the half as they out-scored VSU 12-5 during the span. Four different FSC players scored during the run, led by Vastola with four point. The half ended with the Lady Blazers leading 39-23.
 
VSU's dominance in the first half was across the board as the Lady Blazers owned a 26-16 advantage in rebounding and outscored Florida Southern 14-4 in the paint and 14-2 off turnovers.
 
Florida Southern battled back in the second half it forced Valdosta State into seven turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the half. The Lady Blazers, after making 16 of their 34 first half shots, also made just three of their first 15 attempts in the second half as the Lady Mocs pulled to within 46-40 with 7:19 to play in the game. Cashala Thompson hit a pair of three-pointers during the FSC run while Vastola banked in a trifecta as the shot clock expired to pull Florida Southern to within six points.
 
After seven minutes without a VSU basket, Maggie Johnson eventually ended the drought with a lay-up off an assist by Amy Duke and Thomas added a three-pointer to push the Valdosta State lead back into double digits. FSC got no closer than seven points the rest of the game.
 
Thomas scored 13 points to lead three Blazers in double figures. Davis added 11 points and nine rebounds while Johnson finished with 10.
 
VSU shot 41.4 percent in the game as it made 24-of-58 shots and owned a 40-33 advantage in rebounding. The Lady Blazers also had 12 steals in the contest as they forced 22 Lady Moc turnovers.
 
Sydni Payne scored 13 points to lead Florida Southern while Thompson added 12, Vastola 11 and Christin Strawbridge 10. FSC made 20-of-52 field goals to shoot 38.5 percent from the floor in the game.
 
Valdosta State returns to action Monday, November 24 when it hosts Trinity Baptist in The Complex. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.