ROME -- The Lady Hawks used a late comeback and overtime to top Valdosta State 63-56 at the Winthrop-King Centre Saturday afternoon.
Shorter improves to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play; while the Blazers fall to 6-3 on the season and 2-2 in the Gulf South Conference.
The first half was back and forth as the teams traded the lead, with the Lady Hawks taking a narrow 27-25 advantage into the intermission. After the break, Valdosta stepped things up, using a 13-2 run to open the third quarter and take a 43-37 lead into the final ten minutes.
The Blazers opened the final period by adding to their lead, but the Lady Hawks didn't give up and clawed back from a nine point deficit to take the lead, 48-47, on a jumper from
Kayla Tillie with 1:51 to play. On their next possession Valdosta regained the lead, but
Madison Rice answered for Shorter with a 3-pointer with five seconds to play to make it a 51-49 game in the Lady Hawks' favor. The Blazers forced overtime as Maggie Davis netted a layup with just over two seconds to go to end regulation tied at 51.
In the extra time, Shorter outscored Valdosta 12-5 to earn the win, 63-56.
Taylor Adams led the Lady Hawks on the day with her fourth double-double of the season and second in as many games with 18 points and 18 rebounds. While,
Shakierya McClendon added 14 points and
Tamarr Williams chipped in with 12.
Madi Mitchell led the Blazers with 15 points in the game.
Shorter will return to action for the final time at home in 2015 on Monday, December 14, when West Florida visits the Winthrop-King Centre for a 6:00pm start.
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