Virginia State (8-7) vs. Virginia Union (2-5)

 

Date	Saturday, January 15, 2022
Time	2:00 p.m.
Live Stream	Live Stream
Location	Ettrick, VA (VSU Multipurpose center)
Social Media	@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882 | @VSUTrojansWBB

 
 
The VSU women's basketball team is finally back at home for the first time in the New Year as they look to build on the momentum found late in their overtime victory against Johnson C. Smith 87-82. The victory notched the first road win for them this season as the Trojans are 1-4 in road games. A 4-2 record sits VSU in the number two spot in the Northern Division of the CIAA. Coach James Hill Jr.'s squad ranks nationally in an abundance of categories such as: 13th in steals (167), 13th in turnover margin (7.13) and third in forced turnovers (357). VSU is also second in the conference in opponents' points per game (58.6), first in the conference in free throw percentage (71%), first in turnover margin (7.13), first in assist/turnover ratio (0.86) and first in assists (214). Kaaliya Williams is currently ranked third in the conference in free throw percentage (80%), first in rebounding (114), third in points (188) and eighth in steals (23). Valerie Samuel leads the conference in assists (54) and holds the second spot in assist/turnover ratio (1.4). Samuel also ranks fifth in the conference in free throw percentage hitting 68% of her shots while accumulating 25 steals on the season, which ranks her seventh. Natalia Leaks is currently third in the conference in field goal percentage (46%), fifth in points per contest (14.5), third in assists with 40, fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.1), fifth in steals (25) and fourth in rebounds (89). Sommer Blakemore ranks eighth in the conference in points (154), fourth in assists (39) and second in steals (37).
 



          Last Time Out

•  The Trojans were led by a career-high 24 points and eight rebounds from Shayla Sweeney. Sweeney got it done on both ends of the floor as she earned the only two blocks of the game.

 

• Natalia Leaks showed why she is one of the conference's most prolific scorers as well scoring 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field along with nine rebounds. Leaks also added three assists and two steals as well.

 

• Kaaliya Williams recorded her third-straight game where she finished in double figures with 15 points and nine rebounds.

 

•  Sommer Blakemore made an abundance of winning plays on the defensive end with a team-high three steals along with 15 points and four rebounds. Valerie Samuel added 11 points with three assists.

 

• VSU continues to show up on the defensive end forcing 14 turnovers and eight steals in the contest. The Trojans also shot the ball well from the foul line sinking 77% of their shots.

 
 
Scouting the Panthers

The Panthers are fresh off their second win of the season against WSSU 61-58 which gives them a 1-1 conference record. That being said, VUU had a rough start to the season going just 1-4 in their first five non-conference games. Virginia Union has played the least amount of games on the season, as they are the only team in the conference that has played under 10 games. While the Panthers struggle offensively averaging just 57 points per game, they lead the conference with 5.6 made three pointers per game while ranking within the top-three in three-point percentage at 31%. While VUU may give up quite a few points per game (67), they rank near the top of the conference in a few defensive statistics. The Panthers only allow their opponents to shoot 35% from the field and average 3.6 blocks per contest. VUU is -12 in the rebounding category yet, average 20 forced turnovers per game and 19 points off those turnovers. 15.3 points per contest ranks Taniah Johnson fourth in the conference as two made three-pointers per game ranks her second. Johnson has proven to be one of the more efficient scorer's in the conference as she shoots 40% from the field (sixth in the conference) and 76% from the foul line (fourth in the conference). Ceanna Kinney (1.2) and Raven Williams (0.9) rank within the top-five in blocks per game this season as well.
 

 
 
Series History

The Trojans are currently down in their series against their rivals, 12-14, as the Panthers have won the last 11 games in the series. The last time the Trojans beat their rivals was back in 2015. VSU will look to get the taste of the last loss against the Panthers out of their mouths as VUU took down the Trojans 83-43 in the Quarterfinals of the CIAA Tournament back in 2020.  



 
        A Win Would…

•  Break the 12-12 conference record tie against VUU

  

• Even the series home record at 7-7

 

• Make the Trojans 2-0 on the week

 

• Allow VSU to avoid dropping back down to .500 at 8-8

 

No Fans, Spectators or Media

To maintain the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff and officials, Virginia State Athletics will continue to monitor the conditions closely and adjust our spectator policy accordingly but as of now through January 22 there will be NO fans, spectators or media allowed at home men's and women's basketball games.