VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers shot 59 percent and sank five three-pointers in the second half to pull away from Bentley University, 68-55, in non-conference women's basketball during the VSU Thanksgiving Classic at The Complex Saturday afternoon.

Valdosta, ranked 23^rd in this week's WBCA Division II coaches poll, improved to 4-1 while Bentley, ranked 16^th, slid to 3-2 overall with its second loss in as many days.

The Blazers took control over the final 91 seconds of the third period and the first two minutes of the fourth, outscoring the Falcons 14-2 during that span to open a 58-43 lead.  Graduate transfer Nicole Heyn (Spanish Fork, Utah) had five during a run of seven unanswered to finish the third.

After Bentley graduate forward Autumn Ceppi (Bedford, Mass./Dana Hall) opened the fourth with a basket, Valdosta put together another 7-0 burst. This one included four points from six-one center Kwajelin Farrar (Grovetown, Ga.).

Bentley scored the next five, including a fast-break lay-up from junior guard Ella Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS), but never got closer than ten the rest of the way.

It was a fast start for Bentley with a three from senior guard Kari Brekke (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North HS), a lay-in by Ceppi and two blocks from senior guard Kolleen Bouchard (Houlton, Maine/Houlton HS) producing a 5-0 lead.

The Blazers answered with a 15-2 run and maintained the lead for all but 43 seconds the remainder of the game.

Thompson was the only Falcon to score more than six points as she had a season-high 18. Ceppi, one of four with six points, led the team in rebounds with six, and Brekke made four steals.

Grad student Mallory Odell (Richmond, Va.) led Valdosta with 20 points, on six-of-eight from the floor and eight-of-ten free throws. Heyn put up a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Farrar scored 14.

Valdosta outshot Bentley 48-36 percent and outrebounded the Falcons 34-29. There were five three-pointers in the second half, all by VSU.

Bentley will return to Northeast-10 Conference competition Wednesday when it hosts Assumption University.