VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers sophomore Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) concluded their strong 2022-23 season’s by receiving All-Region 24 honors earlier this week.
Cherrelle Newsom earns All-Region 24 honors for the second time in her VU career, improving on a very impressive freshman season this year as a sophomore.
“Being selected as a two-time member means a lot,†Newsom said. “I have been through so much mentally and physically and being able to accomplish this with the obstacles I had is big.â€
Newsom was VU’s leading scorer this season, averaging 14.4 points per game for the Lady Blazers and serving as the only Vincennes Lady Blazers to play in and start in all 32 of VU’s games this season.
Newsom also led the Lady Blazers with 130 assists.
Newsom’s biggest impact of the season is obviously her three-point shooting ability, finishing the season with 114 three-point makes, placing her second All-Time in school history for threes in a season and currently third in the NJCAA this season.
Newsom hit a very impressive 41-percent of her three-point attempts this season, including four times hitting six threes in a single game.
Newsom closed out her Lady Trailblazers career with a two-year total of 820 points, 224 assists and set a new school record with 198 three point makes. Newsom also scored in double-figures in 45 of her 61 games at Vincennes University.
“(Breaking VU’s three-point record) means that I have really left my mark and I am blessed and proud of myself,†Newsom added. “I know my family is proud of me as well.â€
On what advice she would give to future Lady Trailblazer players, Newsom said, “Even though things may be hard, continue to push yourself knowing there are goals to accomplish. If you play as a team, your light will always shine as an individual.â€
VU freshman Elikya Baseyila burst onto the scene with the Lady Trailblazers this season and continued to prove throughout the season that she was one of the biggest low-post threats in all of Region 24 this season.
“My statistics were good for this season, particularly the last part of the season,†Baseyila said. “My selection is an honor and makes me happy because the people who chose me for the team are remarking on my abilities and success as a basketball player.â€
After arriving to VU late from France and having very little practice time before the season, Baseyila set the tone early with 11 rebounds, including eight offensive rebounds and seven assists in her VU debut against John Wood in November.
Baseyila would finish the season averaging a double-double with 11.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
Baseyila finished the season with 145 offensive rebounds, good for seventh in the NJCAA and her average of 5.2 offensive rebounds per game this season places her fifth in the country.
Baseyila battled injuries for most of the second half of the season but still managed to record 19 double-doubles in 28 games played this season.
Baseyila had her most impressive and dominant game against Rend Lake College when Elikya recorded a 24-point, 17-rebound double-double, including 11 offensive rebounds, which came at the tail end of a stretch of four-straight double-doubles by Baseyila.
“My experience this season was what I expected but still difficult nonetheless,†Baseyila added. “As an international student, whose primary language is French and who competed exclusively in France, I had much to learn and become accustomed to. Especially at the start of the season.â€
“It was difficult for me to speak and listen to English while at the same time learning the ins and outs of basketball in the US,†Baseyila said. “Also, I did not expect to play so often and have so much responsibility during games because I am a freshman. However, I thought it was a good challenge and I tried to step up to the plate, so to speak. One of the most powerful differences in expectation, though, was the support I received from my teammates and coaches. Before I got here, I thought they would just let me do my thing and not worry too much about whether I understood or whether people understood me. There were many times when my teammates and coaches helped me understand and even spoke with referees on my behalf if I could not think of how to say something in English.â€
On what advice she would give to future Lady Trailblazer players, Baseyila said, “Just have confidence and believe in yourself because if you are here, on a college team, you know how to play basketball. Also, I try to think about Kylian Mbappe, who became a professional soccer player in France at just 18 years old and won his first World Cup at 20 years old. His confidence and positivity in telling himself, ‘I’m better’ and ‘I’m a better player’, even though he knew he was not a better player, was something I did this season. Repeating ‘I’m a better player’ forced me to become a better player and athlete. There is something about that pushes you to be better.â€
“Question and challenge yourself sometimes too,†Baseyila added. “Be critical of yourself so that you make progress and also so that you do not get lazy. As Coach Meeks always says, ‘Be ready!’.
Together this duo helped guide the Lady Blazers to a 21-11 record this season, including a 14-5 record against Region 24 opponents and earned a spot in the 2023 Region 24 Championship game.
FULL REGION 24 HONORS
Player of the Year – Shaulana Wagner – Wabash Valley
Freshman of the Year – Brooklyn Gray – Wabash Valley
Coach of the Year – Luke Scheidecker – Wabash Valley
ALL-REGION 24 TEAM
Shaulana Wagner – Wabash Valley
Brooklyn Gray – Wabash Valley
Chanteese Craig – Wabash Valley
CHERRELLE NEWSOM – VINCENNES
Cheyanne Daniels – Shawnee
Lezhauria Williams – Rend Lake
Kiara Cruz – Shawnee
Bonnie Lew Ludlow – SWIC
Gracie Shorter – Olney Central
ELIKYA BASEYILA – VINCENNES
Yiesha Williams – Wabash Valley
Madison Roshelle – Wabash Valley
Courtney Lumpkins – Kaskaskia
Staisha Hamilton – Kaskaskia
Taylor Austin – Kaskaskia
