MERIDIAN, Miss. – A second half rally by the University of West Alabama women’s basketball team fell short as UWA (7-11, 1-3 GSC) dropped a 58-53 decision at Meridian Community College’s Graham Gymnasium to Valdosta State on Friday evening. Valerie Harris led the Tigers in scoring with 17 points. It marked her 30th career game in double figures and 17th of the season.

Keiara Middleton chimed in 14 points to round out the double digit scoring performers for the Red and White.

Trailing 27-24 at the half, UWA witnessed a 17-2 Lady Blazer run over the first five minutes of the second stanza. The run placed VSU (14-4, 4-0 GSC) up 18 points, 44-26; its largest lead of the game.

UWA answered with a 16-1 run to narrow the lead to three points at 45-42. Jessie Clark led the way during the charge, recording all eight of her points in the contest. Harris added four during the spurt with Middleton tabbing in two and three points coming from Omeshia Frost. VSU strung together a quick 4-1 spurt to jump back out to a seven point lead, but again UWA brought the deficit back to three points with 2:15 to play in the contest. The Tigers scrapped the remainder of the contest, but timely free throws by the Lady Blazers led VSU to its fourth conference win.

In the first eight minutes of the opening half, the two teams played neck and neck with neither team holding more than a three point advantage, but with 12:04 to play before intermission VSU grabbed a four point lead. UWA grabbed a two point advantage behind back-to-back treys from Frost with 10:56 before the half. The Lady Blazers regained the lead on a three-pointer from Leschelle Matthews with 10:04. A three-pointer by Sczeny Hartry gave VSU a four point lead with 18 seconds remaining before the intermission, but a free throw by Middleton sent the Tigers into the dressing room down three at the half.