Ettrick, Va. (Dec. 11, 2023)- The Virginia State University women's basketball team played in their first conference matchup against Shaw University. In the game VSU forced 33 turnovers, got 25 steals and scored 27 fast break points in rout to an 82-44 victory. 

Shaw opened the game scoring six of the first seven points. However, after that the Trojans went the final seven minutes on a 27-8 run. Six different players scored during the first quarter run. The second quarter was closer as it was the only quarter the Lady Bears managed to outscore the Trojans, 17-11. Making the halftime score 39-31. 

Coming into the third quarter VSU outscored Shaw 25-7 to establish a big lead. After the Lady Bears scored five of their seven points in the first three minutes the defense toughened up getting nine steals. Tiyanna James and Alexis Blake both had two steals in the quarter. A layup in the fourth quarter with two minutes and 36 seconds left by Raija Todd and Kamani Jones back-to-back gave VSU their largest lead at 42 points, 80-38. 

Nine different Trojans got in the score column with James leading with 17 points, both Mihjae Hayes and Cabria Lewis scored 13 points and Todd was the last Trojan player in double digits with 12 points. Amesha Miller brought down 13 total boards. Seven different players had two or more steals with Lewis leading the way with six. 

The Trojans now move to 8-0 and 1-0 in the CIAA, while Shaw drops to 4-4 and 0-1 in the CIAA. The next matchup will be St. Augustine's on Thursday Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m.