Baltimore, Md. (Feb. 29, 2024)- The Virginia State University women's basketball team made their way to the semifinals with a dominating 51-42 victory of the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith. 

Neither team could get in groove to start the game as JCSU would hold a four to two lead just four and a half minutes into the game. Mihjae Hayes would score five straight points to give VSU the lead at 9-8 with 2:29 left in the first period. Once all was said and done at the end of the first the Trojans had a 12-8 advantage. 

The teams continued to go back and forth as VSU was able to grow their lead to 17-12 with a pair of Kamani Jones foul shots. To end the first half, VSU scored the final four points, making the score 23-18, with Amesha Miller and Tatiana Jones scoring those points. 

JCSU scored the first 13 points in the third quarter to retake the lead 31-23 at the 4:20 mark. The Trojans struggled in the third quarter starting 0-4 on shots and having four turnovers. Amesha Miller finally got the Trojans in the score column by hitting a free throw. To end the third quarter JCSU held a 38-29 lead. In the quarter Miller had four and Jones had the other two points for VSU. 

VSU got their deficit down to five points 40-35, with Hayes scoring all six points in the quarter. Then three layups in a row for the Trojans helped them regain the lead at 41-40 with 3:55 left till the final buzzer. In total the run for the Trojans was 14-2 to help them build a 47-42 lead with 1:03 left. Virginia State made their foul shots to hold on for a spot in the semifinals, 51-42. The team will play Fayetteville State tomorrow in the semifinals at 6 pm. 

Hayes led the game in scoring with 21 points, had 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists.