Box Score

Virginia State (11-15) vs. Lincoln (Pa.) (18-7)

 

Date	Saturday, February 19, 2022
Time	2:00 p.m.
Live Stream	Live Stream
Location	Lincoln, PA  (Manuel Rivero gym)
Social Media	@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882 | @VSUTrojansWBB

 
 
The VSU women's basketball team prepares for their final regular season game after coming off their toughest loss of the season as they allowed Bowie to walk away victorious in double overtime to spoil to Trojans Senior Night, 65-64. Coach James Hill Jr.'s squad ranks nationally in forced turnovers per game averaging 21.72 (23^rd) and 14^th in turnover margin (6.08). VSU is also fourth in the conference in points allowed per game (59.5), first in free throw percentage (71.7%), first in turnover margin (6.00), first in assist/turnover ratio (0.90), third in steals (261) and second in assists (361). Kaaliya Williams is currently ranked sixth in free throw percentage (77%), tied for first in rebounding (184), sixth in field goal percentage (42%) and tied for third behind Leaks in points (331). Valerie Samuel leads the conference in assists (106) and in assist/turnover ratio (2.1). Samuel is fifth in steals with 47. Natalia Leaks is currently fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (43%), first in free throw percentage (90%), ninth in rebounds (139), second in points (350), ninth in steals (42) and tied for fourth in assists (66). Sommer Blakemore currently ranks second in the conference in steals and 25^th in the nation (61), 10^th in three-pointers made (31) and tied for fourth in assists (66). Shayla Sweeney has worked her way into the conference leader board as she is 10^th in free throw percentage (74%)




          Last Time Out
 

• Natalia Leaks ended her senior night with a game-high 22 points on 11-of-25 (44%) shooting from the field along with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. 

 

• Prior to fouling out, Shayla Sweeney scored 14 points on 5-of-10 (50%) shooting from the field while also going 2-of-2 (100%) from beyond the arc. She also added three rebounds along with two assists.

 

• Sommer Blakemore scored 12 points along with a pair of rebounds, six assists and two steals in the contest. She also heated up from three-point range knocking down 3-of-6 of her shots as one of them brought the game to just one possession late in the fourth quarter.

 

•  Valerie Samuel earned six assists along with five points and four boards.

 

• The squad shot a season-high 53.8% from downtown in the double overtime loss.

           

Scouting the Lincoln (Pa.)
The Lions of Lincoln (Pa.) are fresh off their biggest win of the season against Shaw beating the Bears, 97-47. The squad has won four of their last five games. LU is extremely confident heading into their last matchup of the season as the Lions are 10-4 at home this season. Offensively, the Lions sit firmly in the number one spot scoring 1,836 points this season while VSU sits in second with 1,613 points. LU has grabbed a conference leading 432 offensive rebounds on the season while also leading the conference in total rebounds with 1,146. The squad does an exceptional job taking care of the basketball as the Lions sit behind VSU in the second spot with a 5.00 turnover margin. The squad also shares the ball well averaging 13.35 assists per game this season. While LU has scored the most points this season, they struggle with shooting efficiency as the team has made 39% of their shots from the field, 28% from downtown and 66% from the foul line. Lincoln (Pa.) allows 57.9 points per game, which places them in the top-three of the conference. Lincoln (Pa.) leads the conference in steals with 294 and ranks third in opponent's field goal (37%) 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 63 three-pointers on the season. The fifth year senior also has recorded 142 rebounds on the year. Brown is the last player you want to put on the free throw line as she maintains an 88% free throw percentage. Kryshell Gordy sits at third in the conference 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 has 60 assists while Young has 72. Young is also second in assist/turnover ratio as well (1.5).



Series History

The Trojans are 18-7 against the Bulldogs dating back to 2009. Unfortunately, VSU has now lost the last five matchups against LU (Pa.). The Trojans lost the most recent matchup, 67-45, in earlier in the season as they shot just 26% and 17.6% from down town.



        A Win Would…

•  End the five-game losing streak against Lincoln (Pa.)

 

• End a three-game losing streak

 

• Give the Trojans their last win of the 2021-2022 season