Game One: Virginia State (0-0) vs. Indiana University of Pennsylvania  (0-0) Game Two: Virginia State (0-0) vs. Seton Hill University (Pa.) (1-2)

 

Dates	Game 1: Saturday, November 13, 2021 Game 2: Sunday, November 14, 2021
Times	Game 1: 2:00 p.m. Game 2: 1:00 p.m.
Location	Indiana, Pa (Kovalchick Convention center)
Social Media	@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882 | @VSUTrojansWBB

 
The VSU women's basketball team will open the season traveling to Indiana, Pa to compete in the IUP Conference Challenge as the Crimson Hawks will welcome Virginia State, Seton Hill (Pa.) and Livingstone College to the Kovalchick Convention center. This tournament could also be called the PSAC/CIAA challenge as the conference foes will attempt to join forces to take down the PSAC conference. This weekend's slate of games goes as follows:

Saturday-Seton Hill vs. Livingstone @ 12 p.m.
Saturday-Virginia State at IUP @ 2 p.m.
Sunday-Virginia State at Seton Hill @ 1 p.m.
Sunday-IUP vs. Livingstone @ 3 p.m.

 
Last Time Out

• The 2019-20 was not one that Coach James Hill, Jr. is extremely proud of posting a 10-20 overall record along with a 4-11 conference record.
• Virginia State started the season hot as the squad went on 5-game win streak beating all but one team by more than 10 points.
• Statistically as a team, the Trojans were defensive led as they outrebounded opponents and averaged 7.9 steals per game.
• Fortunately, the Trojans have their leading scorer in Natalia Leaks back as the senior guard lead her team in points (11.1), rebounds (5.5), assists (66) and steals (48).
• The St. Augustine's transfer, Kaaliya Williams was named to the All-CiAA Women's Basketball Preseason Team prior to the start of the 2021-22 season. Williams lead the Falcons in scoring (10.7) and rebounds (136).
• The new look women's basketball team welcomed nine freshman and transfers to the team during the offseason.

 
Scouting the Crimson Hawks
The Crimson Hawks of Indiana University of Pennsylvania are a part of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). IUP was the PSAC runner-ups in the 2019-2020 season finishing the season 28-3 with a .903 win percentage. The Crimson Hawks were slated to play Fayetteville University in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball playoffs before the cancellation of the season due to the pandemic. IUP won 19-straight while upholding a 21-1 conference record. IUP's leading scorer, Justina Mascaro, brings 14.2 points per game back to the lineup as well as 71 assists and 31 blocks. Mascaro scored a season-high 32 points with 11 rebounds against Shippensburg (12/21/21). Courtney Alexander scored 8.8 points per game as her season best came against Shippensburg as well accounting for 20 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc with five rebounds. The teams average scoring margin was a whopping 16.8 while outrebounding opponents by nearly 10. Defensively, the Crimson Hawks held their opponents to 32% from the field in the 2019-20 season.
 
Scouting the Griffins
The Griffins of Seton Hill University are a part of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Griffins are the only team in the PSAC/CIAA Challenge to play games this season as the squad enters the weekend coming off a 74-59 win against University of Mary. The Griffins live and die by the three-pointer as SHU went 4-of-32 to open the season but improved to 11-of-19 last time out. Offensively the Griffins struggle shooting just 37% from the field and 27% from three. The Griffins allow their defense to turn into offense averaging 8.7 steals per game along with 3.3 blocks per game. The Griffins have two players who average double figures so far this season as Katie Nolan averages 18 while Sonia Sarda averages 12. Nolan also leads her team in rebounds with 6.7 and blocks with five. Nolan also record the Griffins first double-double of the season scoring 22 points while grabbing 10 boards against Simon Fraser (11/06/21). Her partner-in-crime Sarda leads the team in three-point percentage (.500) and assists (14).
 
Series History
Saturday will mark the first ever meeting between VSU and IUP. The Griffins lead the series 1-2 against the Trojans however, the Trojans won the latest matchup 69-49 as Chrisanna Green and Alexis Smith scored 19 points apiece.  
 
A Win Would…
Give the Trojans a pair of road wins
Even the series against SHU
Allow VSU to take a 1-0 series lead against IUP
Allow the Trojans to start the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2017-18 season