Box Score

VSU's defense held the Lady Blue Bears to five field goals in the second half rallying from behind to defeat Livingstone 57-50 in the opening round of the 2013 CIAA Tournament. Pryncess Tate-Dublin led the Trojans with 13 points in the second half.

The Trojans began the game battling from behind. After facing a 14-point deficit in the first half (21-7), the Trojans found some much needed offense from the free-throw line. Virginia State shot 21% from the field but converted on 11 of 16 attempts from the free-throw line. Lamesha Deal went 6 for 8 while Jasmine Stewart made all four of her attempts in the first half as the Trojans trailed 26-21 at the half.

The Trojans kept the contest close throughout the second of play with the help of their bench. Pryncess Tate-Dublin sparked Virginia State with 13 points in the second half alone on 5 of 7 shot attempts from the field. She also had five rebounds in the second half helping out defensively.

Head coach James Hill, Jr. applied a full court defensive strategy in the second half of play that held Livingstone to 17% offensively. Lamesha Deal, Da'Shae Jones, and Brianna Holt each recorded block shots on the Lady Blue Bears as the Trojans rallied back. Livingstone went 5 for 29 from the field and 1 for 10 from long range, keeping Virginia State around.

Pryncess Tate-Dublin hit two consecutive layups with 3:58 left in the game, putting the Trojans ahead 49-47. Virginia State held onto their lead by knocking down some crucial free-throws and improving their shooting percentage to 35%. The Trojans went on a 7-0 run to close out the game and advance to the next round with a 57-50 victory.

Three Trojans hit double-figures led by Lamesha Deal's 15 points with nine rebounds and four steals. Pryncess-Tate Dublin had 13 points while Alexandria Massado had 11 points. Da'Shae Jones dished out six assists and Jasmine Stewart had two assists.

 The Virginia State Trojans will take on the Lady Panthers of Virginia Union University on Wednesday.  Tip-off is slated for 11:00 am in Time Warner Cable Arena. 
 

POSTGAME QUOTES
VIRGINIA STATE

Head Coach James Hill, Jr.
Overall quote on the game…
We knew it was going to be a tough game. We had played them at their place and went into overtime. I told our girls that they were going to come out on fire. I told them to maintain the course and if we could get to at least under 10 by halftime, I felt like we would be in a good situation.
 
On Pryncess Tate-Dublin not playing in the first half…
We talk on the team about being ready when your time comes. Her number was called and she was ready to perform. She was a quiet sleeper.
 
On going 25-of-40 on free throws…
We were putting teams on the line earlier in the season and letting them shoot 30 free throws a game, while also losing by five. We fixed what we were doing and corrected what we were doing to get on the positive side.
 
On motivation…
We motivate each other like a family. My right hand on the team (Lamesha Deal) comes and talks to me. We have a great relationship.
 
On holding Livingstone to five field goals in the second…
We looked some things at halftime. We just wanted to keep them off balance as we went to a zone and then switched back. I felt like we were athletic enough that if we had to go small that it was an advantage to us.
 
On playing rival Virginia Union in the next round…
We're looking forward to it. It's the Battle of 95. Can't go but two ways, either North or South. We are looking forward to the game tomorrow.
 
Pryncess Tate-Dublin
On scoring 13 points and playing 20 minutes…
Coach Hill gives me several chances and I haven't played in about two years. If felt pretty good going out there and getting the confidence our my teammates all the time. It felt great stroking that 3-pointer.
 
Lamesha Deal
On the last time against Livingstone in the CIAA Tournament…
“I just told the team to keep calm and run our offense, rotate the ball and we will get our shots and layups.