Box Score
The Lee women's basketball team started fast and never looked back en route to a 69-44 drubbing of visiting Gulf South Conference foe Valdosta State Thursday evening in Walker Arena.
The Lady Blazers held a two-point advantage at the 15:59 mark in the opening half but after that it was all Lady Flames. Thanks to another strong output from senior Hollie German and junior Jenna Adams Lee jumped out to a 33-24 halftime advantage. The Lady Flames fired out of the locker room and outscored Valdosta State 36-20 in the second period to close out the 26-point victory.
German led all-scorers with 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field. The senior also exceled behind the arc where she canned six treys on 10 attempts. Junior Jenna Adams delivered 14 points of her own while pulling down seven rebounds. Myriah Illes rounded out the double-figure scoring with 10 points, seven boards and two blocked shots.
Coach Marty Rowe got quality production from his bench in the contest as well. Kayla Beavers registered eight points to go along with Illes' 10 markers. Christina Johnson didnt score but had five big rebounds. The Lady Flames outscored Valdosta State 18-8 in points off the bench.
"If we get that type of play off the bench we are a good basketball team," said Rowe after putting his 397th coaching win in the books. "This allows us to get Hollie and Rachel (Lockhart) a little rest. "Our extra work in practice is really starting to pay off, especially with our younger players. We know KB (Beavers) can shoot the ball and her teammates have confidence in her. She made a really big 3 for us to help open up the lead in the second half."
Lee held the edge in rebounding by a 39-29 margin. The Lady Flames were guilty of 18 floor mistakes while the Lady Blazers commited 15 turnovers.
The stifling Lee defense limited Valdosta State to just 27.1 percent shooting in the contest and just 21.4 percent in the second half. "That is the best our defense has been all year," stressed Rowe. "We got after them and contested almost every shot."
The Lady Flames shot 50 percent in the opening half and never slowed down hitting 13-of-25 second half shots good for 52 percent from the field. The home team shot the ball well from 3-point distance as well going 11-of-27 (40.7 percent) for the game.
Amy Duke led the way for the Lady Blazers with 13 markers. Courtney Sprague added nine points to go along with eight rebounds.
The victory moves Lee to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in GSC play. The win also extends the Lady Flames dominance at home as they have now won 43 straight contests at Walker Arena. The last defeat came on Nov. 29, 2010. "I could not be more happier with this group," Rowe added. "Maybe I've been a little too hard on them. We backed off a little and they responded. But we have got to continue to work hard and get better."
The loss drops VSU to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
The Lady Flames will get some time off for the Christmas break and will return to the hardwood in Florence, Ala. to kick off 2014 when they tangle with GSC rival North Alabama on Jan. 4.
