Late Game Foul Shots Excel VSU Over VUU


Your Virginia State women's basketball team (12-4) faced off against the Virginia Union Panthers (10-3 ) in the Freedom Classic, in their first season meeting. Trojans strike first and quickly make their first two baskets. A foul and a turnover by the Trojans see their lead vanish knotting the score up at four a piece. It's a back-and-forth first quarter affair union's half-court press gives Virginia state some problems. Tiyanna James gives the Trojans the lead back making it a 14-12 game. A step-back three by Virginia Union's Nevaeh Reaves gives the Panthers the lead back. Two consecutive makes by Union gives them a four-point cushion with time dwindling in the first quarter. Skylar White has a chance to cut the Panthers lead to one on a 3-point try and she sinks it right as the shot clock expires.
 
The second quarter starts with a made basket by Union's Tatiana Jones. Kendahl Spearman was all over the court next possession and was rewarded with a hard-earned layup making it a one-point game again. A couple of hard-charging drives to the basket by Anii Harris earns her some free throws, and the Trojans lead by one, scoring 29-28. Skylar White makes a tough basket to earn her a chance at an and-1 and forces a Virginia Union timeout. Trojans lock in on defense and force several turnovers. Union charges back to tie the game 36-36 at the end of the first half.
 
Amesha Miller rips away a rebound and delivers a pass to Anii Harris to open the scoring in the third quarter for the Trojans. The Panthers gain some momentum pushing their lead to four. The game is tied at 42 with a made basket by Anii Harris. After a missed free throw by Union fresh off the bench Caitlyn Rodriguez puts the Trojans up by one. Nevaeh Reaves gets the friendly bounce on a three and the lead is back up to one for the visitors. A strong up-and-under post move by Amesha Miller gives VSU a 3-point lead heading into the final quarter.
 
Another hard-charging drive to the basket puts Anii Harris at the line where she sinks one of two to put VSU up by four. The Trojans defense gets stingy at the 6-minute mark of the fourth and Skylar White ends up in the bleachers trying to save a live ball before a timeout is called. Panthers get a steal and drive into the paint to get the easy breakaway layup. Amesha Miller gets points right back on a made jump shot. A tough layup by Kendhal Spearman puts the Trojans up by four again. Amesha Miller has a chance to push the lead back to four with a pair of free throws and she sinks them both with almost two minutes to go. Skylar White saves a choppy play as she swoops in and makes a layup with a little over a minute left to play in the game. Tiyanna James pulls down a clutch rebound and gets fouled with a chance to push the lead to six, she nails both free throws with 50 seconds to go. Union isn't going down without a fight they make a layup on the other end and the lead is back to four with 40 seconds left to play. Carmen Kweti cleans up a missed free throw to put VSU up by seven and that would seal the win. Your Virginia State Women's basketball team won the Freedom Classic.
 
Anii Harris leads the team in points with 21. Carmen Kweti led the team in rebounds with 13. Anii Harris, Tiyanna James, and Skylar white all grabbed 2 steals a piece. The next game is at Bluefield State University on Wednesday at 5:30.