VALDOSTA, Ga. — Behind season-highs in numerous areas, including 14 made 3-pointers, the No. 10 Valdosta State women's basketball team turned up the heat on visiting Shorter, 84-54 Friday evening at The Complex. Four Lady Blazers were in double figures led by a career-high 18 points from sophomore Kendall Bollmer who was named the Guardian Bank Blazer Athlete of the Game.
VSU (9-1, 9-1 Gulf South Conference) set season-highs in points (84), field goals made (32), 3-point field goals made (14), 3-point field goals attempted (35), rebounds (53), assists (22) and blocks (10). The Lady Blazers shot 46.4 percent from the field on 32 of 69, while going 14 of 35 from range (40.0 percent) and 6 of 7 from the line. VSU pulled down 53 rebounds, including 37 on the defensive end and 16 offensively. The Lady Blazers outrebounded Shorter by 19 rebounds (53-34).
Bollmer was outstanding in the first half from deep as she drained four of her six triples and finished the game 6 of 9 from range with three rebounds, one assist and one block for a career-high 18 points. Bollmer tallied three of her trifectas in the first quarter alone. Bollmer's previous best was 13 points against Thomas University (12/19/19) and 12 points against Auburn Montgomery (1/25/20) where she drained a then-career-high four treys each time.
Lady Blazer graduate transfer Kwajelin Farrar finished with 16 points and ten rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season as she was 7 of 10 from the field with three blocks and one steal. Senior Delaney Bernard also was strong from distance, going 4 of 6 from deep and 4 of 8 from the field for 12 points, while junior Abby Rouse had a season-high 11 points off the bench on 4 of 7 from the field and 3 of 3 from the line. Rouse had six rebounds, two blocks and one steal. VSU's bench outscored Shorter's 42-12.
The Lady Hawks (1-8, 1-8 GSC) finished shooting 21 of 68 from the field for 30.9 percent, while they were 5 of 19 from range and 7 of 14 from the line. VSU held a 23-11 lead in points off turnovers and 15-8 in second chance points. Jasmine Gaines had a team-high 13 points for Shorter on 6 of 18 from the field with eight rebounds.
Shorter's Ansley Barge broke a 10-10 tie with layup off her own steal for a 12-10 lead with 4:44 left in the first half. A bucket from Rouse tied the game at 12 for the fourth and final tie of the contest. Bollmer went off for nine points over remainder of the quarter and a blocked shot VSU used a 14-3 run for a 24-15 margin through the first frame. VSU made six triples in the first quarter alone.
VSU then outscored Shorter 22-12 in the second quarter for a 46-27 at intermission. The Lady Blazers, who shot 38.1 percent from the field in the first quarter, improved on that in the second quarter going 8 of 14 from the field (57.1%) for the frame and 3 of 8 from range. Bollmer had 12 points for the first half, while Farrar had ten points and six rebounds. VSU was 16 of 35 from the field in the half, while draining nine triples in 19 attempts and 5 of 5 from the line. The Lady Blazers held Shorter to just 9 of 33 shooting (27.3%) for the half, while the Lady Hawks converted on five from deep and was 4 of 6 from the line. VSU tallied 26 total rebounds and five blocks.
In the second half, VSU used a 21-10 third quarter and both teams scored 17 points in the fourth quarter. VSU freshman India Jordan scored her first five points of her VSU career in the game, including a trey in seven minutes. Junior Jaynese Perry scored her first bucket of the season, along with one assist and a steal. All 12 Lady Blazers played in the game with 11 scoring.
The two teams conclude the season series Saturday at 2 p.m. at The Complex. Links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more can be found at vstateblazers.com on the women's basketball schedule page. The game also will be broadcast on 94.3 WJEM FM with Mike Chason having the call and online at foxsportsvaldosta.com.
