ETTRICK, VA – Virginia State women's basketball team overcame a 21-point deficit at halftime to come back and beat Virginia Union 62-59 Saturday afternoon. The Trojans outscored the Panthers 38-14 in the second half of play, which helped them seal the victory and push their conference record to 5-2.

 
Kaaliya Williams and Natalia Leaks combined for 34 points while the rest of the team scored 28 points. Williams posted her fifth double-double on the year with 18 points along with 10 rebounds. Leaks contributed 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field along with two steals as she scored double-digits for the fifth game straight. Shayla Sweeney scored in double figures the last three games as well as she finished with 12 points on 56% shooting from the field along with six boards in the contest. Valerie Samuel scored 11 points along with eight boards and a game-high six assists. Sommer Blakemore went hard on the glass grabbing seven rebounds while scoring five points in the contest. The Trojans did not allow the Panthers to shoot not one free throw in the second half while the home squad shot 14. For the eighth time this season, VSU has shot 80% or more from the foul line as they cashed in on 16-of-20 free throws in the contest.

 
 
How It Happened

• While the Trojans started the game with a 8-2 run thanks to six early points from Shayla Sweeney, the Panthers were able to battle back with eight unanswered points of their own to bring the score to score to 10-8 with 3:56 left to go in the first quarter.

 

• The Panthers would go on an 11-0 run to bring the score to 21-10 at the conclusion of the first quarter of play.

 

• VUU would pick up right from where they left off in the second quarter going on a 9-0 run to make the score at 30-12. The Trojans were able to take to lid off the basket as they were able to bring the score to 33-19 prior to the media timeout at 4:46.

 

• Despite good shot contests on the Panthers shots, the visitors would end the half with a 10-4 run which put them up 21 points with the score at 45-24.

 
 
 

• The Trojans struggled mightily on the offensive end shooting just 28% from the field. VUU had active hands in the first half forcing seven turnovers with three steals off the Trojans. While the Trojans had an undesirable start to the game, they were able to crash the offensive glass grabbing 10 in the first half of play. Kaaliya Williams led the team with nine points and six rebounds. Valerie Samuel and Natalia Leaks each had six points as Samuel was also able to contribute five rebounds.

 
 

• After a back-and-fourth start to the half, the Trojans finally found a rhythm scoring 12 unanswered points to cut the VUU lead to just 10 points with 2:36 left in the third quarter.

 

• The Trojans would go on to score six more unanswered points to bring the score to just 52-46 heading into the fourth as the Panthers only found seven points in the quarter.

 

• With the Trojans gaining more momentum as time went on, VUU was able to put a temporary end to the Trojans hot-streak as they opened the quarter with five unanswered points to push the lead back to double digits. The Trojans would go on their largest run of the season scoring 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take the lead 60-57 with 1:46 left in the game.  

 

• While the Panthers would cut the lead to one with 1:25 left in the game, Natalia Leaks came up with a big time block that led to a defensive rebound made by Leaks as well. After VUU was forced to foul her, Leaks was able to ice the game away behind two free throws that gave us the final score of 62-59. 

 
Inside the Box Score

• The Trojans allowed just 7 points each in the final two quarters of play 

 

• VSU allowed no free throws in the second half of play

 

• The Trojans held the Panthers to 18% from the field in the second half

 

•  VSU forced 20 fouls in the game and shot 20 free throws compared to the Panthers six free throw attempts.

 

• The Trojans had four players end in double figures

 

• VSU put an end to a 10-game series win streak for VUU

 
 
Up Next
VSU will prepare for a midweek matchup against Shaw University this Wednesday, January 19. The contest will take place in the VSU Multipurpose center at 5:30 p.m.