Ettrick, VA (2/24/2024)-Your Virginia State women's basketball team (21-4) faced off against Virginia Union University (16-10) in an age old classic which lived up to the hype and saw the Trojans win it 61-57.
Virginia State struck first on a made layup by Tanayja London. The Trojans upped the lead to six after a made layup by Mihjae Hayes forcing the first timeout of the game. Union answered with a three-pointer coming out of the timeout dwindling State's lead to just three points. Each team committed back-to-back turnovers. Tiyana James took matters into her own hands splashing a three to put the Trojans up four going into the 2nd quarter.
Union opened the 2nd quarter with a three making it just a one-point game. Hustle on the defensive end by Mihjae Hayes to take charge led to a Tiyana James three on the other end. An unforced turnover by VUU lead to another timeout called. Amesha Miller beat the buzzer to push the Trojans lead to 10. Union applied the full court press putting them on a 7-0 run shrinking the lead to five. Mekayla Furman beat the 2nd quarter buzzer on a one legged fadeaway and the Trojans headed into halftime with a seven-point lead.
Virginia Union opened the 3rd quarter with a made jumper. A steal and a score by Tiyana James put the Trojans back up by nine. The defense pressed on guard Skylar White, but some shifty moves got her to the basket for a scoop layup. White got fouled on her way to the basket she sunk one of two free throw attempts. The next play down White scored again on a jumper making the lead 14. A made free throw stops a Virginia Union scoring drought. Virginia State held a 15-point lead going into the 4th quarter.
Unions' Ny Langley got fouled on a 3 point attempt she knocked down two of three at the line getting the Panthers within 11. A turnover by the Trojans and another score at the other end by Unions' Nevaeh Reaves makes it a nine-point game with eight minutes left to play. Out of the timeout the Trojans go to their anchor down low in Amesha Miller she knocked down the post shot pushing the lead back to 10. The Panthers were making a push bringing the game within six points when Tatiana Jones cut off their water with an emphatic block. Virginia State gets their own chance at three free throws when Skylar White gets fouled from three. She knocked down two of three from the line making it a nine-point game with just over two minutes to play in the game. Virginia Unions' Reaves fourth steal leads to a three cutting the Trojans lead to three points with a minute to play in regulation. A full court pass leads to an Amesha Miller layup giving the Trojans a four-point cushion. Tensions flare there's a brush up between the two teams Virginia state gets the ball after a long discussion by the refs. Tatiana Jones has a chance to ice the game with a pair of free throws and she does. Those free throws put the Trojans up by six.
The buzzer sounds and the Trojans would squeak past their old foes by four points behind Amesha Miller's double double and some tenacious defense. This will be the Trojans final tune up before the tournament which starts Monday February 26th.
