VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Auburn Montgomery women's basketball team took on the reigning Gulf South Conference champions on Friday evening, falling short of handing host Valdosta State their first home loss of the season in a 57-43 decision.
 
NOTES
• AUM drops to 7-10 on the season and 3-7 in Gulf South Conference action.
• Valdosta State improves to 12-6 overall, 6-4 in GSC play.
• It is the first time this season Valdosta State has not scored at least 60 points on their home court, where the Blazers averaged 77.6 points heading into the AUM matchup and have won 22 of their last 25 games.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Sophomore guard Aaliyah Milord led the Warhawks with 11 points and five rebounds,
• Sophomore forward Regan Croff also finished in double-digits with 10 points and five rebounds.
• Junior guard/forward Evelina Avleeva recorded multiple steals for the third-straight game and 11th time overall with four while pulling down five rebounds.
• For Valdosta State, Madi Mitchell posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, both game-highs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Valdosta State began the contest with the opening five points before a jump shot from Avleeva got AUM on the scoreboard. The Warhawks cut the deficit to two after back-to-back baskets from Croff and Avleeva made it 8-6, but a 4-1 VSU spurt to end the frame made it 12-7.
• The Blazers connected on back-to-back three-pointers on their first two possessions of the second quarter, sandwiching a layup from Milord to make it 18-9. The Warhawks responded with five-straight points via a triple from Milord and a jumper from freshman guard Makaylla Bullard, cutting the separation to four, 18-14. The Blazers ended the half on a 7-2 run, creating a 25-16 deficit.
• The hosts created a double-digit lead with the first basket of the half, 27-16, adding a three-point play to their lead before a 7-0 rally with three baskets from Croff and a free throw from redshirt sophomore Bailee Wolfe made it 30-23. VSU recreated their double-digit advantage with a 12-6 run, holding a 42-27 lead before a jumper from Milord in the final seconds made it 42-31.
• VSU began the final frame with a 9-2 run, holding a 51-33. AUM managed to cut the deficit down to 12, 55-43 off a 10-4 run with points from junior guard/forward Jemaiya Lee, Avleeva, Bullard and Wolfe, but the hosts added to their lead with a jump shot to create the final score.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• The Warhawks converted on 17-56 shots, going 2-13 from three-point territory and 7-11 from the free throw line.
• VSU went 20-46 from the field, 10-23 from beyond the arc and 7-12 from the free throw line.
• AUM pulled down 10 offensive boards versus nine for Valdosta State.
• AUM held an 18-10 advantage in points scored in the pant.
• The Warhawks dished out six assists versus 15 for Valdosta State.
• AUM committed 11 turnovers, resulting in six Blazers' points. The hosts committed 19 turnovers, leading to 18 points.
• AUM recorded eight steals with one block while Valdosta State stole the ball three times with two blocks.
 
QUOTING THE COACH
"From a defensive standpoint I thought we played well," Head coach Dan Davis said. "Anytime you can hold a team under 60 points you are doing your job, we just could not score. We took care of the ball and outrebounded them on the offensive boards but could not finish some of our shots. One of our points was to limit their points in the paint, we not only did that but outscored them in that category. We did a lot well tonight, we just need to find some offense."

 
UP NEXT
The women's basketball team takes on West Florida in a road contest on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m.
 
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