Amanda Haven’s layup with 6.7 seconds remaining gave the Valdosta State Lady Blazers a 50-49 win over the nationally 10th-ranked Fort Valley State Lady Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament South Regional at Arkansas Tech University on Friday.
Sixth-seeded Valdosta State (20-8) led 28-15 at halftime, but No. 3 seed Fort Valley State (26-3) rallied to take its first lead of the night at 47-46 on a Takesha Riggs 3-point play with 1:56 remaining.
Two Tamika Booker free throws put the Lady Blazers back in front with 1:31 to go. Riggs reclaimed the lead for the Lady Wildcats on a layup with 31 seconds left.
After a VSU timeout with 18.8 seconds left, Haven drove the left side of the lane and laid it in to give Valdosta State a 50-49 lead.
Riggs tried a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Fort Valley State. It was off the mark and Jasmine Birdsong’s tip-in was disallowed because it came after the final buzzer.
Michelle Thompson paced Valdosta State with 12 points, and Booker finished with 11 points.
Riggs and Yasheeka Jones had 13 points apiece for the Lady Wildcats.
Valdosta State advances to face Delta State in the regional semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
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