ROME, Ga. – Taylor Adams scored 25 points as the Lady Hawks got back in the win column tonight with a 70-63 win over conference opponent Valdosta State.

"I thought our team came out and played extremely well together, played with a lot of energy, and moved the ball well," head coach Vic Mitchell said.

In the opening minutes of the contest, three players accounted for Shorter's first six points, with Brittany Greene's floater tying the game at six.

The Lady Blazers of Valdosta used three three-pointers in the opening quarter to outscore Shorter 13-7 over the final 6:37 of the period. At the end of one, Valdosta State led, 19-13.

Jackie Hudson's free throws tied the game just minutes into the second quarter, but neither team was unable to take a large lead.

Junior Jordan McCarver managed two three-pointers, and although the Lady Blazers were able to find an answer, her field goals from beyond the arc helped the Lady Hawks take a 34-30 lead at the half.

"Jordan keeps her head down and plays hard, has a tremendous attitude," Mitchell stated. "She came in and had two huge three's in the first half."

Early in the third quarter, Valdosta State pulled within one, but Adams and Greene spearheaded a run to put Shorter up seven, 43-36.

The Lady Blazers battled back to take a two-point lead after a pair of free throws by Madi Mitchell, which the visitors quickly extended to five with a three-pointer.

Adams and BreAnna Thompson scored the final four points of the quarter to make it a one-possession game heading into the final ten minutes of play.

In the fourth, Hudson gave the Lady Hawks the lead with 4:51 remaining and although Valdosta State pulled within three points, Shorter never relinquished its advantage.   

Adams and Raven Fair accounted for seven of Shorter's final eight points, while Kayla Tillie added a free throw, as the Lady Hawks secured a 70-63 victory.

Adams led all players with 25 points. She also pulled down seven rebounds. Fair added 10 for Shorter, while Greene had seven. Valdosta State had three players in double figures, led by Kenya Samone' Dixon with 20.

The two teams shot nearly identical percentages. The Lady Hawks hit 41.1% of their shots, while the Lady Blazers shot 43.2% from the floor.

VSU won the rebounding battle, 35-32, but Shorter went to the line 26 times, compared to only 12 for the Lady Blazers.

The Lady Hawks will now embark on a three-game road trip, beginning at Union on Thursday. Tipoff between the SU and Union is set for 7 p.m., on Thursday, January 12.