VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers closed out the second VU Classic weekend of the season Saturday night at the P.E. Complex with a tough defensive battle before VU was able to pull away late to pick up the 83-43 victory over the Pioneers.
The game got off to a slow start early on, with both teams' defenses winning out in the opening quarter.
The Lady Blazers held the Pioneers to just nine points in the opening quarter as VU jumped out to a six-point lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
VU continued to break the game open, using a 9-2 scoring run early in the second quarter to take a 26-12 lead.
Delta College would look to respond before halftime but could only cut into the deficit by a point as the Lady Blazers held a 32-19 advantage at the midway point.
The Pioneers came out of the locker room firing and quickly cut the VU lead back to single digits before Vincennes regained their footing and built the lead back up to 17 heading into the final quarter of play.
Vincennes looked to completely put the game away early in the fourth quarter, outscoring Delta 20-4 to take a 68-37 lead.
VU would keep the pressure on to the very end as the Blazers defense held Delta to just 43 points as VU picked up their biggest win of the season 83-43.
"We knew from watching the first half that that was not very good basketball," VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Harry Meeks said. "We didn't guard anyone. We pretty much let them do whatever they wanted to do. Offensively we couldn't score. Just about the whole team had several layup attempts and it was like we couldn't make any of them."
"But I knew that once we got someone who would start playing some defense and let the defense create a little offense for us, we would be alright," Meeks added. "Delta was changing from man-to-man to zone and there were times where it looked like we didn't know what they were doing and we had some turnovers that we shouldn't have had. But pretty much in the last third of the game we figured it out and got things going. We started playing really well and got the ball in the middle of the floor. We started making shots. Our defense in the second half was major. We really put some pressure on them and made them make mistakes. We've got to take our defense and almost make it an offense."
VU was led offensively by freshman center Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) who dominated the low block on her way to her second career double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Baseyila also led the Blazers with three blocks on the night.
Freshman Najra Voloder (Konjic, Bosnia) just missed a double-double off the bench for the Blazers, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds.
Sophomores Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Chanice Willis (Champaign, Ill.) closed out the VU scorers in double-figures with the pair each recording 10 points. Newsom would also lead the Blazers with five assists.
Freshman Maycee Lange (Vincennes, Ind.) headed a tough VU defense all night, leading Vincennes with six steals as VU forced 30 turnovers and picked up 19 steals as a team.
"The two tall girls in the middle for us, Elikya and Najra, over the last few games have really been making some good progress," Meeks said. "I know Assistant Coach and VU All-American Ingrida Hartsfield has talked to them about being more aggressive and wanting the basketball. With our size, that should be a factor in a lot of games this year."
"Both of them can catch the ball," Meeks added. "They run the floor well. You are going to have to guard those two and as we get more into the season, I think you will see the value of having two players at that size on the floor."
The Lady Blazers will hit the road to begin next week as Vincennes begins their Region 24 schedule in Centralia, Ill. when VU faces off against Kaskaskia College, Tuesday, Nov. 22.
The Lady Blazers will get the action started Tuesday with tip-off set for 6 p.m. eastern. The VU men's team will close out the night in Centralia at 8 p.m. eastern.
Wabash Valley got the day started at the P.E. Complex by winning over Malcolm X College 144-36.
"We've played a really tough schedule so far," Meeks said. "Anytime you open up a season against Three Rivers and Moberly, teams that are ranked in the Top-25. We have played on the road. We've played in tough places to play. We should be working to the point where we are going to have a good season."
"As long as these girls keep working and as long as they keep concentrating on what we are doing and what we are trying to do with our team, these young ladies will be ready to play," Meeks added. "We've got defenses and offenses that we need to perfect a little bit more. But I look forward to watching this group play and having some fun playing some winning basketball as we go through this season."
VINCENNES BOX SCORE
VINCENNES (83): Brie Miller 0-1 2-4 2, Maycee Lange 2-8 0-0 5, Elikya Baseyila 8-10 2-3 18, Cherrelle Newsom 4-12 0-0 10, Chanice Willis 2-7 5-6 10, Kennadi Harris 2-7 1-2 5, Daylynn Thornton 3-10 0-0 7, Nyre Williams 2-9 0-0 4, Katrina Litte 3-9 0-2 8, Ra'Mya Milton 1-1 0-0 2, Najra Voloder 4-7 4-4 12, Team 31-81 14-21 83.
Delta – 9 10 12 12 – 43
VU (6-2) – 15 17 16 35 – 83
Three-point goals: VU 7 (Newsom 2, Litte 2, Lange, Willis, Thornton). Rebounds: VU 50 (Baseyila 15). Assists: VU 17 (Newsom 5). Steals: VU 19 (Lange 6). Blocked shots: VU 7 (Baseyila 3). Turnovers: VU 17. Personal Fouls: VU 17. Fouled out: None.
