BLUEFIELD, WV- The Virginia State University women's basketball team begin their 3-game road matchups against the Bluefield State University Big Blues on Jan. 23. The non-conference contest is set for 5:30pm at the Ned E. Shott Gym. Bluefield State was recently announced as the 13^th member institution in the CIAA, effective July 1, 2023.
 

Date	Monday, January 23, 2023
Time	5:30 p.m.
Live Stream	VSU Trojans v. Bluefield State Big Blues
Live Stats	Live Stats
Location	Bluefield, WV (Ned E. Shott Gym)
Twitter	@VSUsports
Instagram	@vsutrojans_1882
Facebook	Virginia State University Athletics

Series History
The VSU Trojans are 4-0 against the Bluefield State Blues in the series. The teams met last season, where VSU secured a 95-62 home victory!

Self-Scout
The Trojans are 8-10 on the season, 4-5 in the CIAA, under the leadership of VSU's 1^st year head coach Nadine Domond. On Jan 21, VSU fell short of win, 60-47, against Elizabeth City State University. The squad currently shoots 35% from the field and is averaging 59 points per contest. They ranked second in the conference in free throw percentage knocking down 70% of their shots from the foul line and are second in the conference with a turnover margin of 2.06. They look to improve from behind the arc as they shoot just 83-of-323 (25.7%) from the three-point line.

Defensively, VSU is second in the conference in defense points per game (57.4). The Trojans are also second in the CIAA in opponent three-point percentage forcing opponents the field and 23.9% from beyond the arc against them. They average 9.6 steals per game while forcing 20 turnovers per contest. 

Sommer Blakemore leads the team with 14.2 points per game; shooting 37.6% from the field, and averages 4.8 free throws, 2.4 steals and 3.4 assists per game. Kylah Webb leads the Trojans in rebounds, averaging 5.9 boards per game.

Scouting the Bluefield State Big Blues
Bluefield State is 8-10 on the season, after a Jan. 19 loss to Kentucky State University. The Lady Blues are averaging 69.8 points per game while allowing 68.5. Collectively, they are shooting 38% from the field, 29% from three-point range and 72% from the foul line. Big Blue averages 33.7 rebounds and 11.5 assists per game. They also are averaging 18 turnovers per game while allowing opponents to score 16 points off of turnovers. They have averaged 12.4 steals and 1.2 blocks on the season. Rori Coz leads Bluefield State averaging 10.6 points per game, while Dani Janutolo controls Big Blues boards with 6.3 rebounds per game. Azariah Binford leads the team in assists with 3.4 per game.