Feb. 24, 2007
VALDOSTA, Ga. - Trailing by three late in the second half, West Florida was unable to take advantage of three offensive rebounds over the final 30 seconds as Valdosta State held on for a 49-46 win Saturday at The Complex. West Florida (13-14, 6-6) will enter next week's Gulf South Conference Tournament on a two-game losing streak. Valdosta State (22-5, 11-1) won their 11th straight game.
After a Dominique Boykins (Houston, Texas/North Shore HS) lay up cut the deficit to one, Nina Risto converted two free throws to give Valdosta State a three-point lead. After a West Florida time-out with 30 seconds remaining, Karmeshia Easley's (Mobile, Ala./Spring Hill College) jump shot was off the mark, but Boykins grabbed the offensive rebound. Boykins missed a jump shot, but West Florida retained possession. After another West Florida time-out, Laura Davis (Spanish Fort, Ala./Univ. of Mobile) missed a game-tying three-point field goal, but Easley pulled down another offensive rebound. However, West Florida was unable to get off another shot as Valdosta State held on for the win.
West Florida led throughout most of the first half. The Argonauts held two separate leads of five points before settling for a 22-19 halftime lead. West Florida led 32-24 with 14:41 remaining in the game before Valdosta State went on an 8-0 run to tie the game. With the score tied at 42, Carley Peterson's three-point field goal with 6:45 remaining gave Valdosta State a lead they would not relinquish.
Davis led West Florida with 12 points. All four of her field goals were from three-point territory. Boykins totaled 10 points off the bench. Risto was the only Lady Blazer in double-figures with 12 points, while Khaleh Thomas added seven points and eight rebounds.
West Florida will travel to Southaven, Miss. for next week's Gulf South Conference Tournament. The Argonauts will be anywhere from the second through fifth seed from the GSC East. Listen to the tournament games and follow all of the action with live stats on www.goargos.com.
