Lady Trailblazers use big second quarter scoring run to win over Lincoln Trail on Play 4 Kay night

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers once again partnered with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund for the 10th Play 4 Kay game at VU.

The day began with VU Director of Housing and Residential Life Brad Wolfe presenting VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Harry Meeks with a $300 check to be donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Once the game started, the Lady Trailblazers took care of business as VU broke free in the second quarter and pulled away in the third quarter to come away with a big 78-51 win over the Lady Statesmen.

The game started as a slow, back-and-forth battle with neither team able to break free.

Lincoln Trail would even the game at 16-16 with a last second shot to end the first quarter after the two teams had traded baskets for most of the first 10 minutes of play.

VU fell behind early in the second quarter but would completely take the game over with a 17-2 scoring run to close out the first half of play.

The Lady Trailblazers headed into the locker room holding a 36-22 lead over Lincoln Trail.

Vincennes picked up right where they left off to start the second half of play, with the Lady Trailblazers using a 19-2 scoring run to grab a 55-25 lead over the Lady Statesmen.

VU would hold on to this lead, heading into the fourth quarter ahead 63-35and continued to add on midway through the fourth quarter.

Vincennes would grab their largest lead of the game at 72-39 before the Lady Statesmen closed out the game strong by scoring the last six points to cut the final margin to 27.

The Lady Trailblazers cruised late to their 11th Region 24 win of the season and 18th win overall by the final score of 78-51.

VU was led offensively by sophomore guards Chanice Willis (Champaign, Ill.) and Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.).

Willis came off the bench to add a major presence on the defensive end of the floor and was able to turn her defense into offense several times throughout the game. Willis ended with a game-high 20 points, five steals and four rebounds.

Newsom continues to show why she is the VU All-Time leading three-point shooter, connecting with four shots from long range on her way to 19 points on the night.

Freshman Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) continues to dominate her opponents on the low block, ending up with her 10th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Baseyila also led the Trailblazers with a pair of blocks.

Freshmen Brie Miller (Greencastle, Ind.) and Maycee Lange (Vincennes, Ind.) also contributed at both ends of the floor, with the pair each recording seven points, with Miller adding eight rebounds and Lange finishing with four steals.

The Lady Trailblazers will hit the road this weekend as they look to continue this five-game winning streak on Saturday, Feb. 18 when VU travels to Ina, Ill. to take on Rend Lake College. Tip-off time Saturday is set for 2 p.m. eastern.

VU defeated the Lady Warriors 93-75 at the P.E. Complex earlier this season behind an outstanding 27 points by Cherrelle Newsom.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (78): Brie Miller 3-10 1-2 7, Maycee Lange 3-9 0-0 7, Elikya Baseyila 6-10 2-3 14, Cherrelle Newsom 7-13 1-2 19, Daylynn Thornton 0-6 0-0 0, Kennadi Harris 2-6 0-2 4, Chanice Willis 7-15 4-4 20, Nyre Williams 1-5 2-4 4, Ra'Mya Milton 1-1 1-2, Team 30-75 11-19 78.

Lincoln Trail – 16   6   13   16 – 51

VU (18-8, 11-2)- 16   20   27   15 – 78

Three-point goals: VU 7 (Newsom 4, Willis 2, Lange). Rebounds: VU 41 (Baseyila 15). Assists: VU 13 (Lange 3, Milton 3). Steals: VU 13 (Willis 5). Blocked Shots: VU 5 (Baseyila 2). Turnovers: VU 13. Personal Fouls: VU 13. Fouled out: None.