Valdosta State Upsets Spartans at NCAA South Regional
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#24 Valdosta State
24-5,17-2 Gulf S
|
15 | 14 | 11 | 19 | 59 |
|
#14 Tampa
29-6,17-3 Sunshi
|
13 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 50 |
JACKSON, Tenn. - In the quarterfinals of the 2022 NCAA Division II South Regional, Valdosta AState University played to a 59-50 victory over Sunshine State Conference champion University of Tampa.
Final Score: No. 7 Valdosta State University Blazers 59, No. 2 University of Tampa Spartans 50
Records: Tampa Spartans (29-6), Valdosta State Blazers (24-5)
Location: Fred DeLay Gymnasium || Jackson, Tenn.
All-Time Series: Valdosta State extended its advantage to 13-6 in the all-time series between regional opponents.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter: A tightly contested opening 10 minutes occurred, with the margin separating the teams by just two points. Graduate transfer Kayla Bonilla led the Spartans with five points against her former school. She would also connect on the lone 3-pointer for the Spartans. || Score: 15-13 Valdosta State
Second Quarter: The Spartans scored just six points in the ensuing quarter, making 3-of-12 field goals as the Blazers shots over 50 percent from the field. Just two Spartans scored in the quarter as Melijah Sullivan had four of the six points. || Score: 29-19 Valdosta State
Third Quarter: The teams played an even third quarter, each netting 11 points. Tampa's defense caused eight Valdosta State turnovers, though the Blazers held a distinct advantage on the boards, outrebounding UT 11-3. After scoring just two points in the first half, LaShayla Wright-Ponder tallied six coming out of the break on 3-of-3 shooting. || Score: 40-30 Valdosta State
Fourth Quarter: Tampa turned in 20 points in the final 10 minutes, cutting the VSU lead to five points at 55-50 with 1:23 to play. The Blazers proceeded to score a layup with 1:04 on the clock. UT would miss a 3-point attempt on the next possession, prompting a foul that resulted in a pair of VSU free throws to seal the upset win for Valdosta State. || Score: 59-50 Valdosta State
INSIDE THE STATS
- Three Spartans were in double figures, including Sullivan and Aliyah Abney, with 14 apiece to lead the effort.
- Wright-Ponder tallied 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
- Bonilla and Audrey Ramsey each had a pair of steals.
BEYOND THE BOX
-
Wright-Ponder needed just five points to reach 1,000 career points as she concludes her career with 1,005 points
-
She would be the third Spartan to eclipse the milestone this season, joining teammates Dori Nagy and Sullivan.
- UT set a program record with 29 victories in 2021-22.
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | #24 Valdosta State | #14 Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (23-55) | (20-55) |
| Field Goal % | 41.8% | 36.4% |
| Rebounds | 38 | 21 |
| Assists | 11 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 15 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 11 | 11 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 9 | 6 |
| Pts in the Paint | 30 | 22 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 2 | 4 |
| Bench Pts | 8 | 3 |