Six Lady Trailblazers score in double-figures as VU picks up Region 24 win

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers had their offense running in full swing Monday night when VU hosted the Blue Angels of Kaskaskia College.

Sophomores Macy Michels (Teutopolis, Ill.) and Laila Grant (Derwood, Md.), along with freshmen Trinitee Harris (Elkhart, Ind.), Day’Lynn Thornton (Lafayette, Ind.), Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Chanice Willis (Champaign, Ill.) all scored in double-figures as the Lady Trailblazers came away with the 101-70 win over Kaskaskia.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle early, with both sides hitting shots early.

Vincennes used an 11-2 scoring run to close out the first quarter and a Cherrelle Newsom three at the buzzer to take a 10-point lead after the first 10 minutes of play.

Day’Lynn Thornton got the scoring going early for VU, scoring the first seven points for the Lady Trailblazers.

Laila Grant would come through and help close out the first quarter, ending up with 13 points in the opening period.

VU continued to use this momentum in the second quarter, continuing to grow their lead to 15 points before halftime as the Lady Blazers held a 49-34 lead at the break.

Kaskaskia continued to fight in the second half, as the two teams traded scoring runs before Vincennes managed to get their lead back to 15 points heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter is where Vincennes took their offensive game to another level, using an 11-0 scoring run to grow their largest lead of the day at 33 points.

Kaskaskia would score late to cut the deficit back to the eventual 31 point margin, as Vincennes closed out the 101-70 Region 24 win and snapping VU’s three-game losing streak.

“I thought we did a pretty good job defensively,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Harry Meeks said. “We still have to do a better job of guarding the post, Jaya Hedgepeth had a really great game for Kaskaskia and really showed one of our deficiencies tonight.”

“I thought we moved the ball relatively quickly and easily,” Meeks added. “We spread the scoring out well with six people scoring in double-digits. I’m just pleased with the way we played. We played with a little more heart and we played with more excitement tonight. The losing streak was starting to ware on me and I think they got that in their heads as well. We worked really hard yesterday coming off the Rend Lake game Saturday and our girls deserved to win this game.”

Vincennes was led offensively by Trinitee Harris who came off the bench to score as season-high 23 points on 10 shots, while also dishing out five assists.

Laila Grant finished her night with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Day’Lynn Thornton ended the game with 16 points and four rebounds.

Cherrelle Newsom came away with 15 points, including four three-point makes and a pair of assists.

Macy Michels earned her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.

Chanice Willis came off the bench to score 10 points and lead the Lady Blazers with six assists and three steals while also grabbing four rebounds.