Virginia State (3-4) vs. St. Augustine's (4-3)

 

Date	December 9, 2021
Time	5:30 p.m.
Live Stream	Live Stream
Location	Ettrick, VA (VSU Multipurpose center)
Social Media	@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882 | @VSUTrojansWBB

 
 
The VSU women's basketball team prepares to leadoff the first doubleheader of the season this Thursday in an evening matchup against St. Augustine's University. The Trojans look to extend their winning-streak to three games after coming off a 83-43 dominating victory against Regent. VSU has a couple of Trojans near the top of the conference statistically as Kaaliya Williams leads the conference in free throw percentage knocking down 20-of-22 of her shots from the charity Stripe. Williams is also second in the conference in rebounds with a total of 59 on the season. Valerie Samuel is second in the conference in assists (23) and assist/turnover ratio (1.1). 
 

Last Time Out

• The Trojans had four players finish in double digits as Sommer Blakemore finished with a game-high 17 points on 8-15 shooting

 

• Valerie Samuel ended with 12 points while leading her team in rebounds (8) and assists (5).

 

•  The twins, Bailee and Bianca White, scored an identical 15 points. For Bailee White, this was the first game of the season she scored in double digits.

 

• The Trojans set a new season-high from the free throw line on the season going 91%.

 

• VSU also set a new season-high with 38 points off turnovers while forcing 32 on the afternoon.

 
Scouting the Falcons
The Falcons of St. Augustine's University is a member of the Southern division of the CIAA, which makes Thursday's matchup a non-conference game. The Falcons enter the matchup on a hot streak after winning three of their last four matchups as well. The SAU offense has proven to be dangerous early on this season scoring over 80 points in three games this season. While SAU is liable to explode on offensive, they also have experienced cold spells as well shooting under 40% from the field in four of their matchups this year. The Falcons also struggle with leaving points at the free throw line this year with just a 60% free throw percentage. Defensively, the Falcons are in the middle of the pack in the conference allowing 64 points per game. The squad does a nice job of getting in passing lanes averaging 11 steals per game, which turns into 20 points per game.  SAU holds opponents under 40% from the field and 30% from the three-point line. 22 blocks on the season ranks them within the top-four in the conference. SAU also outrebounds their opponents by four to this point in the season. After their leading scorer from a season ago in Kaaliyah Williams found a new home in Virginia State, Lauren Banks has taken over reigns as the team's leading scorer. Banks averages 10 points per game while shooting 42% from the field. Jada Swafford is ranked within the top-10 in the conference in steals totaling 17 off the bench this season.
 
 
Series History
The Trojans lead the series 10-6 after losing the last matchup, which put an end to a seven-game series win streak. VSU lost the most recent matchup 54-48 after the Falcons fought for a first quarter lead and did not look back spoiling all of the Trojans comeback attempts.
 
 
A Win Would…

•  Give the Trojans their fourth win in five games

 

• Allow the Trojans to remain undefeated in the month of December

 

• Push their home record above .500 at 3-2

 

• Allow the Trojans see a .500 record for the first time this season

 

• Make the Trojans 1-0 against teams in the CIAA