| Virginia State (10-8) vs. Bowie State (6-8) |
| Date |
Thursday, January 27, 2022 |
| Time |
5:30 p.m. |
| Live Stream |
Live Stream |
| Location |
Bowie, MD (A.C. Jordan Arena) |
| Social Media |
@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882 | @VSUTrojansWBB |
VSU women's basketball team will build on their, 69-53, victory against Washington Adventist Tuesday night. Coach James Hill Jr.'s squad ranks nationally in categories such as: 15th in turnover margin (6.59) and 20th in forced turnovers (390). VSU is also third in the conference in points allowed per game (57.9), first in free throw percentage (72%), first in turnover margin (6.59), first in assist/turnover ratio (0.89), third in steals (187) and second in assists (265).
Kaaliya Williams is currently ranked third in free throw percentage (80%), first in rebounding (143) and second in points (236).
Valerie Samuel leads the conference in assists (71) and holds the second spot in assist/turnover ratio (1.7). Samuel also ranks fifth in the conference in free throw percentage hitting 67% of her shots from the foul line while ranking fourth in steals with 32.
Natalia Leaks is currently second in the conference in field goal percentage (44%), second in free throw percentage (87%), third in points per contest (14.4), eighth in rebounding (100), fifth in assists (45) and seventh in steals (30).
Sommer Blakemore currently ranks third in the conference in assists (50), second in steals (43) and 10
th in points (178).
Last Time Out
- Natalia Leaks posted her fifth 20-point game of the season after scoring a game-high 20 points and five assists while also accounting for five rebounds on 7-of-12 shooting from the field.
- Williams tallied four rebounds while Samuel ended with five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Sweeney added five rebounds to her respective stat line as well.
- Sommer Blakemore wreaked havoc every time the Lady Shock put the ball on the floor as she tied the conference-high with seven steals. Blakemore stuffed her stat sheet as she went for eight points, four rebounds and three assists.
- Azhane Bacot grabbed a career/game-high 11 rebounds along with a steal and block.
- The Trojans drew 19 fouls which led to 31 free throws.
- VSU also tied their season-high with 20 offensive boards in the evening contest.
Scouting the Bulldogs
The Bulldogs of Bowie State (Overall 6-8, CIAA 4-3) enters play fresh off a one-point victory against St. Augustine's, 49-48. BSU is currently 4-3 at home on the season. Offensively, the Bulldogs struggle with efficiency shooting 35% from the field, 30% from beyond the arc and 62% from the foul line while hitting only 156 free throws on the season. The Bulldogs are +2.3 in the turnover margin while averaging 18 turnovers per contest. On the defensive end, BSU is -7 in scoring margin allowing opponents to score 59.5 points per game which ranks them in the top-five in the conference. BSU forces 20 turnovers per contest while averaging 16 points per contest off turnovers. Katerra Myers is the team leader in points, rebounds and steals. Myers ranks fifth in the conference in rebounds with 108 (7.2 per game) and sixth in free throw percentage with 67%. Myers averages 10 points per game while shooting 47% from the field. Drew Calhoun is the sharp shooter of the team as she ranks sixth in the conference in made three-pointers per game with 1.7.
Series History
The Trojans are 15-12 against the Bulldogs dating back to 2009. The odds are seemingly stacked against the Trojans as BSU has won five of the last six matchups and hold an 8-5 home record over VSU. Last time out, the Bulldogs downed the Trojans, 51-48, as
Natalia Leaks game-high 20 points was not enough to earn the win.
A Win Would…
- Snap Bowie's three-game series win streak
- Give the Trojans four wins in the last five games
- Make VSU 2-0 in the Maryland road trip
