Ettrick, Va. (Dec. 14, 2023)- The undefeated Virginia State University (9-0, 2-0 CIAA) hosted St. Augustine's (6-3, 0-2 CIAA) and emerged victorious 76-63 in a gutty performance. 

To open the game neither team scored a bucket until Mekalya Furman made a jumper with 6:41 left in the opening quarter. Furman would score seven of the opening 10 points for the Trojans as they would lead 10-2 going into the media timeout. Both teams would score six points in the final three minutes making the score 16-8 after 10 minutes.  

90 seconds (about 1 and a half minutes) into the second stanza a layup by Kamani Jones made the score 21-10, to give VSU a double-digit lead. The lead would stay around the nine-to-11-point range until a three pointer by Cabria Lewis extended the lead to 16 points, 36-20, with three minutes remaining. Another three pointer from Lewis gave the Trojans their largest lead of the half, 18 points, 41-23. SAU would hit a pair of foul shots to make the halftime score 41-25. 

In the third quarter Virginia State would get their biggest lead of the game, 20 points twice after a layup by Amesha Miller, 47-27 and an Alexis Blake layup, 49-29 at 7:18 and 6:16 respectfully. However, the quarter was controlled by the Falcons as they outscored the Trojans by five points, 20-15, to make the score 56-45 with just 10 minutes left in the game. In the fourth period SAU would cut the lead down to single digits three minutes into the period, 58-49. Besides a three-point play by Mihjae Hayes after that the lead stayed in the single digits for VSU until the final 1:38 when VSU started to hit foul shots to pull away. Tiyanna James, Miller and Lewis all hit a pair of foul shots to help secure the win for Virginia State. 

Miller led the game with 22 points and 18 rebounds. Both Lewis and Furman added 14 points and James was the last Trojan in double figures with 10. Fayetteville State is the next team to make their way to the MPC as they play the Trojans on Saturday December 16 at 6 p.m.