GREENSBURG, PA – The Atlantic Region Conference Challenge will be the start of an era. The Nadine Domond era. Coach Domond and her coaching staff looks to earn their win at Virginia State and dawn the #Rebirth of excellence within the VSU Women's Basketball Program. The team will open their season playing the hosts Seton Hill (Pa.) on Saturday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. and Lock Haven on Sunday, November 13 at 1:00 p.m.
Series History
The Trojans are 1-3 against Seton Hill (Pa.) in matchups dating back to 2015 as SHU won the last match up in 2021 63-46.
The Trojans are 0-1 against Lock Haven after losing their lone matchup against the Bald Eagles back in 2005 75-71.
Last Time Out
The Trojans finished 13-17 overall and 5-12 in conference play and ended the regular season losing eight of their last nine games. That being said, the Trojans found new life in the CIAA Tournament after winning in the first two rounds before losing to the #2 seed ECSU 57-53 in the semifinals. The Trojans were picked to finished 10
th overall and fifth in the Northern Division. Offensively, the Trojans struggled mightily getting the ball in the hoop shooting 36% from the field and 23% from three-point land. Defensively, they stood strong averaging 10 steals per game with a season-high 18 steals in three separate games. The Dynamic Duo of Shayla Sweeney and Sommer Blakemore will return to lead the Trojans in their second year in the program. Sweeney is the top returning scorer on the team as she averaged 10 points per contest ranking her 19
th in the nation with 4.6 rebounds and a team-high 10 blocks. The defensive savant, Sommer Blakemore returns to the squad after finishing second in the CIAA with 77 steals a year ago. She averaged 9 points per game with four rebounds and was second on the team with 77 assists. The team features three freshman and four transfer students.
Scouting the Griffins
Seton Hill (Pa.) ended the regular season 21-11 and 15-7 in the PSAC which allowed them to finish third in the West but saw an early exit in the PSAC Tournament. They shot 40% from the field and 29% from three-point range while hitting 71% of their free throws. The Griffins saw trouble on the boards grabbing 37 rebounds per game. They were fourth in their respective conference in points per game averaging 66.1. The Griffins ranked second in the PSAC in steals with 319 and turnover margin with 3.28. Four of five of the top scorers from a season ago have graduated which leaves Christiane Frye as the top returning scorer as she averaged 10 points per game. Frye also doubled as the lock down defender from last season as she led the team with 65 steals.
Scouting the Bald Eagles
Lock Haven finished the season 14-14 and 10-12 in the PSAC which placed them fifth in the east. They lost in the Quarterfinals in the PSAC tournament to Kutztown a season ago. They shot 37% from the field and 26% from the three-point line while hitting just 67% from the free throw line. Lock Haven led the conference averaging 43 rebounds per game. They were in the bottom half in the PSAC in scoring as they averaged 58 points per game which ranked them 15
th. Defensively, the Bald Eagles were among the PSAC's best giving up just 58 points per contest. They ranked third in the conference in opponents field goal percentage with 35.5 percent. They were second in opponents three-point percentage with 27.2 percent. Ahnera Parker is the top returning scorer as she averaged 14.1 points per game which ranked her 12
th in the conference a season ago. The forward shot 41 percent from the field while grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game which is also a team lead in terms of returners. Parker will also lead the team on defense as she accounted for 20 blocks last season.
