Lady Blazers unable to overcome slow start at D-II No. 14 Parkland

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers continued a long stretch of road games on their schedule Saturday afternoon when VU hit the road to face NJCAA Division II No. 14-ranked Parkland College.

Vincennes fell behind early in the first quarter and were unable to make up the deficit as the Cobras came away with the 71-61 victory.

The host Cobras wasted little time gaining the upper hand Saturday afternoon, opening the game on a 13-2 scoring run and closing out the first 10 minutes of play with a 16-5 advantage over the Lady Blazers.

The Parkland lead continued to grow early in the second quarter to 15 before VU used a 10-2 scoring run to get within seven.

The seven-point margin would hold through the remainder of the first half as the Lady Blazers headed into the locker room trailing 29-22.

Parkland again looked to ride the momentum of the home crowd early in the third quarter after regaining their 15-point lead.

Vincennes immediately answered back to cut the deficit back to eight and took another point off the margin before the end of the period as VU entered the fourth quarter of play trailing 48-41.

The Cobras looked to put the game away late in the fourth quarter after building their third 15-point lead of the contest, but the Lady Blazers wouldn't go away quietly as VU looked to make another comeback but fell short as Parkland came away with the 71-61 victory.

Vincennes was led offensively by sophomore guards Kennadi Harris (Columbus, Ohio) and Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.).

Harris got the Blazers going early, scoring eight of her team-high 19 points in the first half, while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing out three assists.

Newsom ended her night with 18 points, 15 of which coming in the second half, while also leading Vincennes with four assists.

Freshman Katrina Litte (Valmiera, Latvia) came off the bench to reach double-figures with 12 points and a pair of assists.

Sophomore Nyre Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) cleaned the boards for the Lady Blazers all game, ending with a team-high 10 rebounds.

Sophomore Chanice Willis (Champaign, Ill.) put on a defensive show in front of her hometown crowd, leading the Blazers with five steals and four assists, while also grabbing four rebounds.

The Lady Blazers will hit the road one more time during the 2022 portion of this season, closing out the first half of the regular season with a long trip to University Center, Mich. to take on Delta College Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. eastern.

The Lady Blazers defeated Delta College 83-43 at the P.E. Complex on Nov. 19 on the final day of the second VU Classic this season.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (61): Kennadi Harris 8-14 3-5 19, Cherrelle Newsom 7-13 0-0 18, Chanice Willis 1-8 1-2 3, Daylynn Thornton 2-6 1-2 3, Nyre Williams 1-10 1-2 3, Katrina Litte 6-11 0-0 12, Ra'Mya Milton 1-3 1-2 3, Brie Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Team 26-67 7-13 61.

VU (9-6, 3-1) – 5   17   19   20 – 61

Parkland – 16   18   19   23 – 71

Three-point goals: VU 4 (Newsom 4). Rebounds: VU 27 (Williams 10). Assists: VU 17 (Newsom 4, Willis 4). Steals: VU 10 (Willis 5). Blocked shots: VU 0. Turnovers: VU 8. Personal Fouls: VU 19. Fouled out: Willis.