Virginia State (10-10) vs. Elizabeth City State (13-5)

 

Date	Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Time	5:30 p.m.
Live Stream	Live Stream
Location	Elizabeth City, NC (R.L. Vaughan center)
Social Media	@VSUsports | @vsutrojans_1882 | @VSUTrojansWBB

 
 
The VSU women's basketball team will look to pull together for a very important bounce back game against ECSU after losing, 67-45, to Lincoln (Pa.). Coach James Hill Jr.'s squad ranks nationally in categories such as: 16th in turnover margin (6.21) and 22th in forced turnovers (423). VSU is also fourth in the conference in points allowed per game (59), first in free throw percentage (72.9%), first in turnover margin (5.95), first in assist/turnover ratio (0.87) and second in assists (274). Kaaliya Williams is currently ranked fourth in free throw percentage (82%), first in rebounding (149) and second in points (254). Valerie Samuel leads the conference in assists (83) and leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.8). Samuel also ranks fifth in steals with 36. Natalia Leaks is currently third in the conference in field goal percentage (40%), second in free throw percentage (90%), second in points (275), sixth in rebounding (118), seventh in assists (50) and seventh in steals (33). Sommer Blakemore currently ranks second in steals (47) and ninth in three-pointers made (27). Shayla Sweeney crept her way into the leader board, as she is fifth in free throw percentage with 79% and ninth in blocks with 11.


 
          Last Time Out
 

• Natalia Leaks led the team in scoring yet again with 13 points. Leaks also posted five rebounds and a steal while knocking down all four of her free throws. 

 

•  Shayla Sweeney scored nine points while bringing down four rebounds in the contest.  

 

•  Valerie Samuel posted her ninth game with five or more assists as the guard scored seven points along with five rebounds and five assists.

 

•  Sommer Blakemore and Kaaliya Williams each scored six points in the contest as Blakemore added six rebounds and two steals as well. 

 

• VSU accounted for seven steals while forcing 14 turnovers on the night. The Trojans were outrebounded 35-22.

 


Scouting the Vikings

While the Vikings sit comfortably at 13-5 on the season, the Vikings are only 5-4 in conference play. ECSU has dropped three of their last four games. The Vikings play vastly different when they are at home vs. being on the road as they are 7-2 at home and 4-3 on the road. The squad is second in point margin as they typically beat their opponents by 9.3 points. The team leads the conference in field goal percentage (42%) and assists per game (15.17). The Vikings are also second in three-point percentage (34%). On defense, ECSU has given up just 1,048 points in the season, which makes them the second best defense in the conference. The squad is also second in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (36%) and three-point percentage (26%). Sireann Pitts currently leads the conference in blocks with 24 on the season and second in rebounds per game with 7.5.



Series History

The Trojans are 14-8 against the Vikings dating back to 2009. The Trojans look to turn things around against them as they have lost three of the last four matchups. Last time out, ECSU downed the Trojans, 72-58, as Trojans were abysmal  from the field shooting just 27%.
 

        A Win Would…

•  Push the Trojans overall record above .500 at 11-10

  

• Push the Trojans conference record above .500 at 6-5

 

• Put on end to the recent cold streak as they long their last two games