Ettrick, Va. (Dec. 16, 2023)- The Virginia State University women's basketball team dropped their first game this season to Fayetteville State 78-69. VSU would never regain the lead after the first quarter.

To open the game the teams were going back and forth as the Trojans would find themselves down 17-16 and Fayetteville State scored a quick five points to get the largest lead in the first quarter. A pair of foul shots from Alexis Blake with a minute left made the score 21-18 after the first 10 minutes.   

FSU did not let up as the first three minutes of the second stanza they used an eight to two run to increase their lead 29-20. However, a layup by Blake and Tiyanna James plus a three pointer from Cabria Lewis made the score 29-27 halfway through the quarter. The Broncos would always seem to find an answer to make their lead more than one possession, but .5 seconds before halftime Mihjae Hayes launched a half court prayer but was fouled and sank all three foul shots to go into halftime down 43-38. 

Again, in the third quarter VSU managed to get the deficit to either one or two points on three separate occasions, but FSU would end the 10 minutes outscoring the Trojans 19-15 to go up by nine, 62-53 with just 10 minutes left. VSU held the Broncos scoreless in the opening four minutes of the fourth stanza and managed to make it a one-point game 62-61. However, 40 seconds later Fayetteville State would hit a deep three pointer to regain some separation. After a pair of foul shots from Amesha Miller made the score 65-63, FSU would score eight straight points to secure the win. 

Four different Trojans scored in double figures with Hayes leading the way with 16, Miller and James with 12 and Lewis with 10. Miller also brought down a team high eight rebounds and Hayes had a game high seven assists. With the loss Virginia State is now 9-1 and 2-1 in the CIAA and FSU moves to 8-1 and 2-0 in the CIAA. VSU will play their last game before Christmas Mondays Dec. 18, 2023, against Claflin University