SALEM, WV – The Virginia State Women's Basketball team returns to the court after scoring 104 points (most since 2016) their last time out against Virginia University – Lynchburg. The Trojans rolled over the Lady Dragons 104-36 Sunday afternoon. The squad will look to carry their recent momentum over into this week as they travel to West Virginia to face Salem on Tuesday, November 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Series History
The Trojans are 8-1 against the Lady Tigers in matchups dating back to 2010. The Trojans won the first eight matchups but lost the most recent in 2019, 92-86.
Self Scout
The Trojans are 3-3 on the season and look to earn their first road win of the season. The squad currently shoots 36% from the field and is plus eight in the scoring margin (third in conference) averaging 61 points per contest. They rank second in the conference in free throw percentage knocking down 70% of their shots from the foul line. They currently tie for first in the conference in assist/turnover ratio maintaining a 0.74. They look to knockdown their open looks from the three-point line as they shoot just 21-of-103 (20%) from the three-point line. Defensively, the Trojans are currently the best the conference has to offer as they lead in opponents points per game (53). They also lead the CIAA in opponents field goal percentage and three-point percentage forcing opponents to shoot just 31% from the field and 23% from beyond the arc against them. Their turnover margin leads the conference as well (4.83). They average 10.3 steals per game while forcing 21 turnovers per contest.
Sommer Blakemore leads the team with 12 points per game shooting 43% from the field. She averages five rebounds per game along with 19 assists which ranks her seventh in the conference. She ranks third in the conference and first on the team in steals with 16. Blakemore also ties for second in conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.4).
Raija Todd ranks second in the conference in assists (20) and first in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.8). She has the most made three-pointers on the team with nine while averaging 11 points per game.
Shayla Sweeney leads the team and is third in the conference in made free throws with 22. She ranks fifth in the conference in free throw percentage (78.6%) and shoots 57% from the field while averaging five rebounds per contest along with three blocks.
Scouting the Lady Tigers
Desperate for win, Salem (WV) is 2-5 on the season. The Lady Tigers are -7 in the scoring margin averaging 66 points per game while allowing 73. They shoot 40% from the field, 35% from three-point range and 72% from the foul line. SU averages 38 rebounds per game with 10 assists per game. They look to do a better job protecting the ball averaging 20 turnovers per game while allowing opponents to score 18 points off turnovers. They have acquired 51 steals on the season along with 24 blocks. Nerea Arambarri-Fernandez leads the Lady Tigers averaging 17 points per game. She ties for first on the team in made three-pointers with 17 going 17-of-41 on the season (42%). She is also deadly from the free throw line hitting 89% of her free throws. She leads the team in assists with 20 and steals with nine. She also grabs 5.6 rebounds per game. She scored 29 points against Gannon going 6-of-8 (75%) from the three-point line along with six rebounds then went out and scored a season-high 31 points against Alderson Broaddus going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc along with eight rebounds and eight assists.
