BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – The UT Southern Firehawks turned a tight road contest into a statement conference win on Saturday, pulling away late to defeat Blue Mountain Christian University, 69–60, behind balanced scoring, timely defense, and poise in the closing minutes.
UT Southern faced early adversity as the hosts jumped out to a fast start, but the Firehawks answered quickly. Lauren Smith and Ashley Dickey set the tone offensively in the opening quarter, combining for 12 points as UTS stayed within striking distance despite trailing 20–17 after one.
The second quarter saw the Firehawks seize momentum. Smith knocked down a three early in the period to tie the game, and Ramie Reid followed with a strong finish inside off a steal to give UT Southern its first lead. Silkiari Vazquez-Troche orchestrated the offense throughout the quarter, repeatedly getting into the lane and finding teammates, while Reid's activity on both ends helped fuel an 18–12 quarter that sent the Firehawks into halftime with a 35–32 advantage.
The third quarter became a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to build separation. Vazquez-Troche kept UT Southern steady at the free-throw line and on dribble penetration, while Dickey buried a key three late in the period to swing momentum back to the Firehawks. Despite a brief run by the opposition, UTS closed the quarter within one possession at 50–49.
UT Southern took control in the fourth quarter with defense and discipline. Dickey sparked the decisive run with a steal and finish, then followed with another bucket in traffic to reclaim the lead. Smith delivered a crucial stretch midway through the quarter, scoring back-to-back baskets in the paint to extend the margin, while Reid added a putback and later a short jumper to keep the Firehawks firmly in front.
Down the stretch, Vazquez-Troche closed the game with authority, attacking the rim for a late layup and calmly converting free throws to seal the win. UT Southern outscored Blue Mountain Christian 19–11 in the final quarter, holding firm defensively and capitalizing on late turnovers.
Smith led the Firehawks with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, adding five rebounds and steady defense. Dickey finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and a pair of steals, repeatedly stepping up in key moments. Vazquez-Troche posted a well-rounded performance with 14 points, six assists, and three steals, while Reid added 13 points and four rebounds, consistently impacting the game on both ends.
With the victory, UT Southern improved to 12–4 overall and 4–3 in conference play, continuing its strong run of form as the season reaches its midpoint.
The Firehawks will be back in action on Saturday, January 17, when they travel to Life University for their next Southern States Athletic Conference matchup.
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