Ettrick, Va. (Dec. 18, 2023)- The Virginia State University women's basketball team played their last game before Christmas break and shot 43% (6-14) from three in route to a 69-57 win over Claflin University. 

To open the game neither team would get the ball through the basket for the first 90 seconds then Alexis Blake hit a layup. Through the whole first quarter VSU would outscore the panthers 23-7 and would hold Claflin without a field goal for the last four minutes. 

The first four minutes of the second stanza would be a back-and-forth affair, before a three from Cabria Lewis and layup by Mekayla Furman made the score 34-14. A layup from Kamani Jones gave VSU their largest lead at 25 points, 40-15, with just under two minutes left. Over the final two minutes the Panthers outscored the Trojans eight to two to make the halftime score 42-23. 

Coming into the second half Claflin would outscore VSU in the final two quarters. In the third period they would hold a two-point advantage, 16-14. A layup from Blake two and a half minutes into the quarter tied the largest lead for Virginia State, 50-25. However, over the final seven minutes the Panthers went on a 14-6 run to cut their deficit to 56-39. The fourth and final quarter The Trojans scored 12 points in the first 6 and a half minutes in the final quarter to make it 68-46. However, the final three minutes were controlled by the Panthers, but it was too little too late as VSU would win 69-57. 

It was a balanced attack for the Trojans as Tiyanna James led with 14 points, Mihjae Hayes and Raija Todd both had nine points and Tatiana Jones recorded eight points. 

With the win VSU is now 10-1 and 2-1 in conference play while the Panthers dropped to 3-6 and 1-4 in CIAA play. The Trojans will now be off for Christmas break and will return to action and end their home stand on Saturday December 30 against Chowan at 2 p.m.