MONTEVALLO, Ala. – After trailing by seven with 1:23 left in the contest, the Montevallo women's basketball team clawed back to force overtime and ultimately capture a 69-64 win over Valdosta State.
Lia Edwards led the way with 21 points, while Jordan Gillies added 14 points and team highs in rebounds (nine) and steals (six).

Edwards struck first hitting back-to-back baskets to open the game. The Lady Blazers responded with the next six points to take a, 6-4, advantage at the 4:42 mark. A Gillies free throw and an Aubrey Sorrells lay-in in the next few minutes tied the game, 9-9, with 1:44 left. Back-to-back triples from the Lady Blazers closed the quarter, putting VSU ahead, 15-9, at the end of the first quarter.

VSU opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, but Edwards responded with a pair of free throws, as the Lady Blazers held an, 18-11, advantage at the 9:16 mark. After a VSU bucket, The Falcons scored the next five, with four of those coming from Ramie Reid, as VSU led, 20-16, at the 5:40 mark. Both teams traded a pair of baskets, before an Elisa Saffold triple cut the Lady Blazer lead to one, 24-23, at the 1:24 mark. Neither team would score in the final minute, as the Lady Blazers took the one-point lead into the break.

Isabel Grimes opened the scoring in the second half with a lay-in to put the Falcons ahead, 25-24, in the opening minute. Both teams traded buckets, as an Edwards jumper put the Falcons up, 31-30, at the 5:27 mark. The Lady Blazers scored the next five points, taking a, 35-31, advantage with 3:49 left. A free throw each from Grimes and Gillies cut the deficit to two, 35-33, at the 2:34 mark. Gillies and Reid scored the next points for UM, as VSU held a, 38-36, advantage with 53 seconds to go. The Lady Blazers closed the quarter with the last four points to take a, 42-36, lead into the final quarter.

The Lady Blazers opened the fourth quarter with a lay-in, but Saffold responded with a 5-0 run of her own, as VSU led, 44-41, at the 8:31 mark. The Lady Blazers halted the run with a layup, but Gillies connected on a pair of free throws, as VSU held a, 46-43, advantage with 6:06 left. Both teams traded a basket, with Sorrells hitting a jumper at 4:22. After a Lady Blazer bucket, Jerrilyn Richardson cashed in on a pair of free throws, as VSU led, 50-47, at the 2:47 mark. Sorrells connected on a pair of free throws a ten seconds later, but the Lady Blazers extended its lead to, 56-49, with 1:23 left. The Falcons continued to fight, as pressure defense forced multiple steals down the stretch. Free throws from Edwards and Richardson cut the deficit to three, as VSU held a, 56-53, lead with 46 seconds left. The Falcons held tough with a defensive stand and Gillies drove in and drew a foul on the next Montevallo possession. Gillies sunk a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to one, 56-55, with 12 seconds left. The Lady Blazers knocked down one of two free throws on the other end to take a, 57-55, lead, with Montevallo having ten seconds to respond. Gillies delivered once again in the final seconds, earning a tough lay-in to tie the game with four seconds left. The Falcons held tough on the defensive end to force overtime.

The Falcons struck first in overtime, with a pair of Sorrells free throw and a Gillies lay-in, putting Montevallo ahead, 61-57, at the 4:36 mark. After a pair of VSU free throws, Edwards cashed in on an and-one to put the Falcons ahead, 64-59, at the 4:06 mark. Jerrilyn Richardson drained a huge three-point basket over a minute later, as the Falcons extended the lead to, 67-60, at the 2:54 mark. The Blazers scored the next four points to make it a one possession game, 67-64, with 1:19 left. The Falcons held tough defensively and sunk a pair of free throws to secure the thrilling, 69-64, overtime victory at home.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 69 | Valdosta State 64 (OT)
Records: Montevallo 7-8 (5-5 GSC) | Valdosta State 10-6 (5-5 GSC)
Location: Central State Bank Arena | Montevallo, Ala.

GAME NOTES

• Montevallo shot 31 percent from the floor, compared to Valdosta State's 41.4 percent clip.
• The Lady Blazers narrowly outrebounded the Falcons 41-40.
• Lia Edwards led the way with 21 points, while Jordan Gillies added 14 points and team high in rebounds (nine) and steals (six).
• The Falcons outscored the Lady Blazers in the paint 36-28.

UP NEXT: Montevallo hosts West Florida on Saturday, Jan. 16.