The Lee women's basketball team (22-6) will face Valdosta State (23-4) for the third time this season in the semifinal round of the GSC Championship at the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University on Saturday at 3:15 ET. The winner will advance to the final and be pitted against the winner of the top-seeded Union and Delta State. The final NCAA D2 South Regional rankings have been released. Union is No. 1, Valdosta 4 and Lee 5. 
  
The Lady Flames defeated the Blazers inside Walker Arena on Dec. 13, 56-45 and lost at Valdosta on Feb. 17, 52-51. In the loss Lee had claimed a 51-50 lead with 10 seconds remaining, but one of its 21 turnovers in the contest resulted in a layup by the Blazers' Tamiya Francis and the shocking final. Francis, at 5-foot-3, will be the smallest player on the court on Saturday, but she has dished off over 100 assists and tallies over nine points each game. 
  
"This has been a great season to this point," said Lee coach Marty Rowe after his team opened tournament play with a 77-54 victory over Mississippi College. "We feel like over the last month we've played an extremely tough part of our schedule and we're excited to see how this team can continue to grow. Our team is excited to go back to Birmingham. It is a fun atmosphere at Samford and the GSC does an excellent job of hosting championships. It should be a fun weekend. 
  
"Playing Valdosta State at tournament time seems like the new norm for us. It is a rematch of last year's semifinals (the Lady Flames won the battle 74-71) and we will have to play really well to have a chance to win the game. Again, year-end and year-out Valdosta is one of the teams you have to deal with if you want to continue to advance in postseason play." 
  
The Blazers are on a nine-game winning streak and average 69 points per game while holding opponents to 52 points. Kwajelin Farrar, a 6-foot-1 graduate student is the top scorer and rebounder, 14.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg. Nicole Heyn stands at 5-foot-11 and is also a graduate student. She averages 13.6 ppg and 7.5 rpg. Freshman Taylor Searcey came off the bench in the last meeting against the Lady Flames and tallied 14 points and grabbed eight boards. 
  
The Lady Flames will counter with three players in double-figure scoring. Haley Schubert (16.7 ppg) and 144 assist, Halle Hughes (11.7ppg) and shooting 43% from deep, and Hannah Garrett (10.1 ppg) are veteran leaders. Sophomore Julia Duncan has been playing her best ball of late and is averages 9.6 ppg. Among the regulars Duncan makes 84% (41-of-49) of her free throws. The Lady Flames average 72 ppg and allow 58. 
  
Saturday's game will be aired on the (Buzz) Talk Radio 101.3 FM and can be viewed on TV FLO SPORTS.