Lady Trailblazers use big second quarter to win over D-II No. 3 Parkland

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers faced another tough test Saturday night at the Physical Education Complex, facing the Parkland College Cobras.

The Cobras entered the contest Saturday with an unbeaten 10-0 record and sporting a No. 3 National ranking in this week's NJCAA Division II rankings.

The Lady Trailblazers were looking to get back on track Saturday and trying to end a three-game losing streak and did just that after scoring 34 points on the second quarter to come away with an 83-71 victory over the Cobras.

The first quarter began as a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to really break away and ultimately ending the first 10 minutes of play tied at 17-17.

Vincennes looked to be the first team to break away in the second quarter, opening the second period by outscoring the Cobras 21-7 to take a 38-24 lead.

VU would later use an 8-2 scoring run to grow their lead to 15 and later adding on a free throw before halftime to head into the locker room at the break holding a 51-35 advantage over Parkland.

The Trailblazers continued to add to their lead to begin the second half, scoring six of the first nine points of the third quarter to take a 19-point lead.

The two teams would trade scores throughout the rest of the third quarter, with VU able to pick up another point onto their lead during the run to head into the fourth quarter holding a seemingly commanding 69-49 lead.

Vincennes looked to put the game in cruise control to begin the fourth quarter, growing their lead to 77-53, their largest lead of the night.

Parkland College had other ideas though, as it appeared that the Lady Blazers might have taken their foot off the gas a little too early, combined with the Cobras opting for more defensive pressure, the Cobras rattled off 12 straight points to cut the VU lead down to 77-65.

After a pair of VU baskets, the Cobras would cut the deficit down to 10 with six more unanswered, outscoring the Lady Blazers 18-4 during this stretch.

Vincennes would put the game away for good in the end, hitting a pair of free throws to help secure the 83-71 victory over NJCAA Division II No. 3-ranked Parkland College.

The Lady Trailblazers had a very spread out scoring attack Saturday night, with five Blazers scoring in double-figures, led by freshman Destinee Hooks (Indianapolis, Ind.) who finished with 21 points on the night.

Hooks came off the bench and really filled out the stats sheet in just her second collegiate game, finishing with six assists, four steals, four blocks and three rebounds for VU.

Sophomore Johnai Wimbleduff (Indianapolis, Ind.) also scored in double-figures off the bench, ending with 11 points and four assists.

Sophomore Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) continues to control the glass in the rebounding game, finishing with another double-double, her fourth of the season, with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Freshman Karina Scott (Noblesville, Ind.) helped spark the Lady Blazers big 34-point second quarter by hitting two of her three three-pointers in the second period and finishing with 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.

Freshman Taylor Guess (Indianapolis, Ind.) rounds out the VU double-figure scorers on the night, ending with 10 points, three steals and three big blocks.

Sophomore Brie Miller (Bainbridge, Ind.) just missed out on another double-double of her own, finishing with eight points and 12 rebounds.

The Lady Trailblazers shared the ball very efficiently Saturday night, recording 24 assists on 32 made field goals.

Vincennes will look to keep this momentum going into next week when VU opens up Region 24 play with back-to-back Region 24 road games.

The Lady Blazers will begin the week Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill. Tip-off time for that game is set for 4 p.m. eastern.

Vincennes will then close out the week on the road Saturday, Dec. 16 when VU travels to Ullin, Ill. to take on Shawnee Community College at 2 p.m. eastern.

VU will then return to the Physical Education Complex for the final game of the 2023 portion of their schedule when Vincennes hosts Jefferson College Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. eastern.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (83): Karina Scott 4-8 0-0 11, Katrina Litte 2-9 0-2 4, Taylor Guess 5-8 0-0 10, Brie Miller 3-7 2-2 8, Elikya Baseyila 4-9 3-5 11, Destinee Hooks 7-12 6-9 21, Makyla Tucker 1-5 0-0 3, Johnai Wimbleduff 4-7 2-3 11, Maycee Lange 2-6 0-0 4, Team 32-71 13-21 83.

Parkland – 17   18   14   22 – 71

VU (4-7) – 17   34   18   14 – 83

Three-point goals: VU 6 (Scott 3, Hooks, Tucker, Wimbleduff). Rebounds: VU 40 (Baseyila 14). Assists: VU 24 (Litte 7). Steals: VU 14 (Hooks 4). Blocked Shots: VU 7 (Hooks 4). Turnovers: VU 16. Personal Fouls: VU 21. Fouled out: Lange. Technical Fouls: Hooks (1 – 3:49).