CLINTON, Miss. --- A late, Mississippi College rally fell short as the Lady Choctaws fell 63-55 at Valdosta State University on Thursday, Feb. 14. MC outscored the Lady Blazers 39-24 in the final 20 minutes, but couldn't overcome a 23-point, halftime deficit.

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Game Score: Mississippi College 55 | Valdosta State 63
Date: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019
Location: Valdosta, Ga. | The Complex
Records: Lady Choctaws 6-16, 2-14 GSC | Lady Blazers 17-7, 11-5 GSC

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A trio of Lady Choctaws scored in double figures led by Jamilah Sanders with 16 points. Kaitlyn Thompson added a season-high 11 points followed by Zariah Matthews with 10 points. Lauran Sheriff grabbed a team-best eight rebounds. MC shot 33.9 percent from the floor in the game and connected on 72.2 percent from the free throw line.
 
Sonya Franklin led VSU in scoring with 20 points while Kayla Bonilla added 12 points. Kendra Green paced the Red and Black on the boards with nine rebounds. VSU shot 36.5 percent from the field, including a clip of 33.3 from behind the arc. The Lady Blazers connected on 74.1 percent from the free throw line.
 
TURNING POINT

• After trailing by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter, Mississippi College nipped the Lady Blazers lead to 57-52 with under a minute to play in the game behind a pair of free throws from Thompson. The Cleveland, Miss., junior scored the final four points of the Lady Choctaws run to cut the lead to within two possessions. However, VSU hit its next six free throws to push the lead back out to 63-55.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Thompson's previous high was five points set three times this season with the last coming at Lee on Feb. 2.
• Sheriff's rebound total was one off her season-high set against LeMoyne-Owen on Nov. 17.
• The two teams combined for 46 turnovers in the contest.
• The loss secured a season sweep for VSU and the fourth straight win in the series.

NEXT
Mississippi College travels to Pensacola, Fla., and the University of West Florida on Saturday, Feb. 16. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.