JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven Blazers Women's Basketball team held off a late rally by Auburn-Montgomery Saturday afternoon to pick up its fifth win in Southern States Athletic Conference play.
 
Ariel Wilson led the Blazers (11-7, 5-3 SSAC) with 21 points in the game and Candler Gregory and Jacinda Smith also scored in double figures to help defeat the Warhawks (12-7, 3-4 SSAC).
 
Following a timeout called by Steve Calder at 14:52 left in the first half, the Blazers erased an 11-6 deficit and jumped out to a huge lead with a 23-6 run over the next nine minutes en route to a 38-25 lead at the halftime break.
 
Gregory started the run with a couple big three pointers back-to-back and then Wilson added another three, which helped fuel the big first half.
 
Coming out of the break, the Blazers' lead was cut back as Auburn-Montgomery started off with a 10-4 run and slowly worked the game back to a 5-point gap at the first media timeout.
 
Despite another three pointer by Gregory that put Belhaven up 58-46 with 6:44 remaining, AUM was still able to work the deficit back.
 
A couple big baskets by the Warhawks cut the deficit down to 60-58, but a basket by Smith and then free throws by Kenya Wright and Narshanda Malone sealed the victory for the Blazers.
 
Wright had a big game for the Blazers on the glass, recording nine first half rebounds before adding two more in the second half to lead all players with 11 rebounds in the game.
 
TaShayla Steede also finished with double-digit rebounds, recording 10 to go along with a game high seven assists from down low.
 
The two teams were fairly even on the night, splitting rebounds at 41 a piece while also each turning over the ball 15 times each. Both teams were able to score 15 points off of turnovers.
 
The Blazers finished with 13 points off of second-chance opportunities while Auburn-University converted second-chance opportunities to 12 points.
 
Belhaven was 22-of-57 from the field, connecting on 39 percent of its shots. The Warhawks were 23-of-67 on the afternoon, shooting 34 percent.
 
The Blazers will return to action Tuesday night for a non-conference test against Rust College at Rugg Arena.