ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State University women's basketball team stretched their winning-streak to three games following an 69-56 victory St. Augustine's University on Thursday evening.
The Walking double-double machine,
Kaaliya Williams, record her fourth of the year with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting while grabbing 13 total boards with six of them coming from the offensive glass in the matchup against her former team.
Natalia Leaks scored 13, gathered five assists and had five steals in her return after missing action since the Penn State Greater Allegheny game.
J'Auana Robinson scored double digits for the first time this season while going 2-2 from three-point range along with three steals. Sommer Blackmore scored 10 points in the evening match up.
Shayla Sweeney scored eight while going 4-of-5 in her Trojan debut.
Valerie Samuel recorded her third-straight game with five or more assists. The Trojans accumulated 17 steals while forcing 30 turnovers. VSU nearly doubled the Falcons shot total shooting 63 shots from the field while SAU only took 42 shots.
How It Happened
- The Trojans and Falcons tied four times in the first quarter as J'Auana Robinson led the game with six points at the conclusion of the 1st quarter. The Falcons held a slight edge over the Trojans 19-16.
- In the second quarter, the Trojans had five different players' score a bucket, which helped them cut the lead to just one point headed into the half. After being down three in the first quarter, the Trojans were able to cut the lead down to 31-30 at halftime.
- J'Auana Robinson had a team-high seven points on 2-of-3 shooting while Natalia Leaks and Bianca combined for 11 points so far in the contest. The Trojans held the Falcons to just 39% from the field and 36% from three in the first half. VSU had already came away with nine steals at half time while outrebounding their opponent 17-15.
- Midway through the third quarter, the Falcons seemed to have found a grove going up by seven points with the score at 39-32.
- A 9-2 Trojan run headlined by six points from Kaaliya Williams allowed VSU to knot the score at 41 with 4:20 to go in the third quarter.
- Six unanswered points capped by Williams converting an and-one opportunity gave the Trojans the lead heading into the fourth quarter 49-46.
- The Trojans would ride that momentum into the fourth quarter assuming a 10-4 run that brought the score to 60-52 with 4:52 left to go in the game.
- The Trojans would win the game with five unanswered points to produce the score 69-56.
Inside the Box Score
- The Trojans were 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, which helped them pull away.
- VSU grabbed 13 offensive boards in the contest
- Virginia State was 50% from three in the first and fourth quarters
- The squad amassed 17 steals in the contest while allowing only six steals in the matchup
Up Next
Virginia State will be right back in the VSU Multipurpose center for a date with the undefeated #22 Shepherd Saturday, December 11. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
