Virginia State (10-9) vs. Lincoln (Pa.) (13-5)

 

Date	Saturday, January 29, 2022
Time	4:00 p.m.
Live Stream	Live Stream
Location	Ettrick, VA (VSU Multipurpose center)
Social Media	@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882 | @VSUTrojansWBB

 
 
VSU women's basketball team will attempt to make up for their overtime loss last time out against Bowie State, 63-57. The Trojans will have a tall task ahead of them as they look to take down the conference leaders in Lincoln (Pa.). Coach James Hill Jr.'s squad ranks nationally in categories such as: 16th in turnover margin (6.50) and 22th in forced turnovers (409). VSU is also third in the conference in points allowed per game (58.2), first in free throw percentage (72%), first in turnover margin (6.50), first in assist/turnover ratio (0.88), third in steals (194) and first in assists (274). Kaaliya Williams is currently ranked fourth in free throw percentage (81%), first in rebounding (145) and second in points (254). Valerie Samuel leads the conference in assists (73) and leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.7). Samuel also ranks fourth in steals with 32. Natalia Leaks is currently third in the conference in field goal percentage (43%), second in free throw percentage (88%), third in points per contest (14.6), sixth in rebounding (108), fifth in assists (48) and seventh in steals (31). Sommer Blakemore currently ranks third in the conference in assists (50), second in steals (43) and seventh in three-pointers made (25).


 
          Last Time Out
 

• Natalia Leaks led the team in scoring yet again with a game-high 19 points. Leaks also posted a team-high eight rebounds and three assists while knocking down all eight of her free throws.

 

• Kaaliya Williams was right behind Leaks with 18 points while sinking all six of her free throws and hit 6-of-10 of her shots from the field.

 

• Sommer Blakemore contributed nine points while bringing down six boards and hit two three-pointers in the contest.

 

• The Trojans had a rough night putting the ball in the basket shooting 31% from the field and 25% from downtown.

 

• On the bright side, VSU scored 16 second chance points and 19 point off turnovers.

 


Scouting the Lions

The Lions of Lincoln (Pa.) (Overall 13-5, CIAA 6-2) are fresh off a loss to Shaw 74-65. While the Lions lost their last time out, the squad has earn victories in four of their last five games. LU is extremely confident heading into the matchup as the Lions are 6-1 on the road this season. Offensively, the Lions sit firmly in the number one spot scoring 1,423 points this season while the VSU sits in second with 1,227 points. LU has grabbed a conference leading 360 rebounds on the season while also leading the conference in total rebounds with 900. The squad does an exceptional job taking care of the basketball as the Lions sit behind VSU in the second spot with a 4.90 turnover margin. The squad also shares the ball well averaging 13.20 assists per game this season. While LU has scored the most points this season, they struggle with shooting efficiency as the team has made 38% of their shots from the field, 28% from downtown and 65% from the foul line. Lincoln (Pa.) allows 58 points per game, which places them in the bottom-three of the conference. Lincoln (Pa.) leads the conference in steals with 235 and ranks third in opponent's field goal percentage (38%) and three-point percentage (27%). Lincoln (Pa.) is the home of the CIAA's leader in points as Bryanna Brown is averaging 17 points per contest while also leading the conference with 47 three-pointers on the season. The fifth year senior also has recorded 112 rebounds on the year and leads her team with 31 steals. Brown is the last player you want to put on the free throw line as she maintains a 90% free throw percentage. Kryshell Gordy sits at second in the conference behind Williams with 129 rebounds while also averaging nearly a block per game. Jade Young and Jaleesa Lanier have been handing out dimes all season as Lanier is second in the conference with 51 assists while Young sits at 48. Young is also second in assist/turnover ratio as well (1.5).


Series History

The Trojans are 18-6 against the Lions dating back to 2009. That being said, the odds are seemingly stacked against the Trojans as LU has won the last four matchups. Last time out, Lincoln (Pa.) downed the Trojans, 65-58, as Natalia Leaks scored a game-high 12 points along with three steals.
 

        A Win Would…

•  Snap the Lions four-game win streak.

  

• Help the Trojans avoid falling back to .500 on the season

 

• Give the Lion's their second-straight loss for the first time this season.

 

• Give the Trojans tons of momentum taking down the conference leaders