ETTRICK, V.A. – Virginia State women's basketball team drops to 0-2 following 63-46 loss to Seton Hill University Griffins in the PSAC/CIAA Challenge.
 
Valerie Samuel recorded her first career double-double as she led her squad with 12 points with a game-high 11 rebounds. Sommer Blakemore recorded her first double-digit game as a Trojan with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Kaaliya Williams had seven points and nine rebounds while Natalia Leaks finished with seven points, five rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
 
The Trojans shot 70% from the free throw line in the contest.  VSU capitalized on all 11 of the Griffins turnovers. That being said, turnovers plagued the Trojans as 16 led to 16 fast break points for the Griffins.
 
How It Happened

• The Trojans were scoreless five minutes into the game allowing the Griffins to open up an 11-0 lead. At the conclusion of the first quarter, SHU led 16-6.

 

• Seton Hill would keep the Trojans at arm's length taking a 30-19 lead into the locker room.

 

• Valerie Samuel and Natalia Leaks had four each at the half. Samuel also accounted for a team-high four boards with two assists while Leaks added two assists.

 

• To open the third quarter, VSU went on an 8-3 run to bring the Griffins lead to just six at 35-29 with 5:17 left in the third quarter. SHU would go on an 11-2 run to bring the score to 48-33 to the close the quarter.

 

• Back-and-forth scoring from both teams kept the Trojans from making a comeback attempt to produce the final score 63-46.

 
Inside the Box Score

• The most efficient quarter of play for the Trojans was the third quarter as they shot 40%.

 

• Virginia State set a new season-high in rebounds (35) and assists (13).  

 

• VSU shot 70% from the free throw line.

 

Up Next
 Virginia State will play in front of the home crowd for the first time this season against Southern Virginia University in a midweek matchup Wednesday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m.