ULLIN, Ill. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers continued their winning ways Thursday night after overcoming a slow start to pick up a 66-43 road win at Shawnee.
The Lady Blazers got off to a slow start after the long bus trip to Ullin, with the Lady Saints jumping out to an early 9-2 lead in the first quarter.
Vincennes would immediately wake up and battle back in a big way, outscoring the Saints 24-2 to roll into the halftime break holding a 28-15 lead.
VU continued this run in the second half, with an 8-0 run giving the Lady Blazers a 23-point lead in the third quarter.
The Lady Trailblazers would grow their lead to as much as 30 before the Lady Saints answered back late, but were unable to overcome the large deficit as VU finished off a very defensive-minded 66-43 win over Shawnee.
VU was led offensively by a double-double by freshman Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. This is Baseyila’s eighth double-double this season.
Sophomore Daylynn Thornton (Lafayette, Ind.) also had a big night on both ends of the floor, ending with 14 points, eight rebounds and a team-high six steals.
Sophomore Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.) ended her night with 13 points including three made three’s, giving her 167 in her VU career, just five away from breaking the Lady Blazers All-Time record for three-point makes in a career.
The Lady Trailblazers controlled a majority of the game on the defensive end of the floor, ending with 16 steals as a team and holding the Lady Saints to 11 points or fewer in three quarters Thursday.
The Lady Blazers will be off this weekend as VU prepares for their Region 24 matchup with John A. Logan College at the Physical Education Complex, Wednesday, Feb. 8. Tip-off time Wednesday is 5 p.m. eastern.
Vincennes defeated the Lady Volunteers 81-62 earlier this season in Carterville behind 20 points and nine rebounds by sophomore Nyre Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.).
VINCENNES BOX SCORE
VINCENNES (66): Cherrelle Newsom 5-9 0-0 13, Daylynn Thornton 5-15 2-4 14, Brie Miller 1-1 5-6 7, Elikya Baseyila 5-11 4-6 14, Maycee Lange 1-7 2-2 4, Chanice Willis 3-6 0-0 7, Elena Tzelou 0-0 0-0 0, Nyre Williams 3-8 1-3 7, Ra’Mya Milton 0-0 0-0 0, Team 23-57 14-21 66.
VU (16-8, 9-2) – 7   21  22  16 – 66
Shawnee – 9   6  11  17 – 43
Three-point goals: VU 6 (Newsom 3, Thornton 2, Willis). Rebounds: VU 33 (Baseyila 10). Assists: VU 16 (Lange 5). Steals: VU 16 (Thornton 6). Blocked Shots: VU 2 (Baseyila, Lange). Turnovers: VU 16. Personal Fouls: VU 17. Fouled out: None.
