ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State women's basketball team fell just four points short to Shaw in overtime, 59-55. Unfortunately, after a tough back and forth game the Trojans were able to find only two points in the overtime period. The loss drops their conference record down 5-7.

 

Natalia Leaks scored a game-high 20 points along with five assists and three steals. Kaaliya Williams scored eight points and posted her sixth game of the season with 10 or more rebounds as she grabbed a game-high 10 boards. Prior to fouling out, Sommer Blakemore posted seven points with five rebounds and four steals. Valerie Samuel posted seven points also with six rebounds and a team-high four assists. The Trojans shooting percentages held them back tonight as they shot 31% from the field, 13% from beyond the arc and a season-low 54.3% from the foul line. The Trojans forced 15 steals in the contest and scored 26 points off turnovers. The Trojans outrebounded the Bears on the offensive glass 22-3.  

 

How It Happened

• At the start of the game, Valerie Samuel scored the first four of the Trojans points. The contest came to the third tie of the game at eight points with 4:47 left to go in the 1^st quarter.

 

• The last bucket of the first quarter came at 3:43 as the teams would force missed shots and turnovers out of one another to end the opening quarter at, 10-10.

 

• The Bears were able to score five unanswered points to put the score at, 15-12 with 5:49 left in the second quarter.

 

• While four-straight points from Sommer Blakemore brought the Shaw lead to just one point, the Trojans were not able to gain to lead with the score at 25-22.

 

• In the first quarter of play, the score was tied at an identical 10 points while Shaw was in fact able to outscore the Trojans, 15-12, in the second quarter. The Trojans shot a decent 44% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. VSU got into foul trouble early as the Bears shot 20 free throws in just a half of play.  
   

• Following a good jumper from Natalia Leaks to open the half, the Bears controlled the quarter getting their lead up to as much as 39-28 with 5:40 left to go.

 

• Being down by double digits for the first time in the game, the Trojans came out swinging scoring seven unanswered points to take the lead 42-41. VSU would take a slim 44-43 lead into the final quarter of play.

 

• With the help of a group effort from Shayla Sweeney, Natalia Leaks and Kaaliya Williams the Trojans were able to go up 51-47 with 6:20 left in the game.

 

• The Trojans held a four-point lead with 5:00 to go in the game. Unfortunately, the Trojans were held scoreless through the final five minutes of the game and allowed the Bears to tie the game at 53 to force an overtime period.

 

• Bianca White scored the first points of overtime but the team was not able to find any more buckets throughout the remainder of the game as the Bears would go on to take the win in overtime, 59-55.

 
 
 
Inside the Box Score

• The Trojans forced 28 turnovers and accumulated 15 turnovers

 

• The Trojans outrebounded the Bears on the offensive glass 22-3

 

• VSU allowed the Bears to shoot just 32 shots from the field while shooting 70

 

• Natalia Leaks was one of two players to finish is double-digits

 
 
Up Next

The Trojans will defend their home court against ECSU on Saturday, February 12 as it will also be Community day in the Multipurpose center.