Second quarter scoring run dooms Lady Blazers against No. 7 Wabash Valley

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers faced another tough Region 24 battle Saturday night facing off against No. 7-ranked Wabash Valley College in a battle of the last two undefeated teams in Region 24 play.

The Lady Blazers held their own for most of the first half but were undone by a massive 21-0 scoring run by the Lady Warriors as Wabash Valley cruised late to a 125-91 victory over the Lady Blazers.

The game looked to get away from the Blazers early, with Wabash Valley setting the tone off the tip with an 8-0 run to begin the game and another 9-0 run in the first quarter to take a 19-5 lead.

Vincennes would answer back and get going offensively to cut the Wabash Valley lead down to five at 24-19 before WVC extended their lead back to eight before the end of the period to lead 30-22 after the first 10 minutes of play.

VU continued to battle into the second quarter, cutting the deficit down to six at 35-29 before Wabash Valley completely took control of the game with a 21-0 scoring run to lead 56-29.

The Lady Blazers looked to answer back before the end of the first half but were unable to put together a run of their own with the Lady Warriors leading 65-35 at the halftime break.

Vincennes again looked to cut into the big deficit in the third quarter but were again undone by a 12-3 scoring run as the Warriors held an 83-47 advantage.

The two teams would trade baskets before the Lady Blazers ended the third quarter with five straight points to cut the WVC lead down to 94-66 heading into the final 10 minutes of action.

Wabash Valley looked to put the game away early in the fourth quarter, opening the period on a 9-2 scoring run to lead 103-68.

After another late 8-0 scoring run by WVC but the lead at 113-74 the Lady Blazers closed out the game strong, finishing the game on a 9-2 scoring run but ultimately falling 125-91 and suffering their first loss in Region 24 play this season.

The Lady Trailblazers had five scorers in double figures, led by freshman Destinee Hooks (Indianapolis, Ind.) who caught fire from three in the fourth quarter to finish with 17 points and five rebounds.

Freshmen Makyla Tucker (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Giavonnie Belton (Indianapolis, Ind.) each cross over the double figures mark off the bench with Tucker ending with 15 points and four steals, while Belton connected on three shots from three-point range for 14 points and a pair of assists.

Sophomore Brie Miller (Bainbridge, Ind.) recorded her second consecutive double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds.

Sophomore Maycee Lange (Vincennes, Ind.) just missed out on a double-double of her own, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks on the evening.

The Lady Trailblazers will now have a week to prepare for their next game when the Region 24 schedule flips over and the Blazers look to bounce back against Rend Lake College inside the P.E. Complex, Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. eastern.

Vincennes defeated Rend Lake College 78-61 earlier this season in Ina, Ill. in December with the help of a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double by freshman Taylor Guess (Indianapolis, Ind.)

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (91): Brie Miller 6-13 1-2 13, Maycee Lange 5-10 0-0 13, Destinee Hooks 5-21 5-6 17, Karina Scott 1-9 0-0 3, Katrina Litte 2-7 0-0 5, Giavonnie Belton 5-10 1-1 14, Makyla Tucker 5-12 3-3 15, Najra Voloder 0-1 1-2 1, Taylor Guess 2-5 0-0 4, Johnai Wimbleduff 2-6 2-6 6, Team 33-94 13-20 91.

Wabash Valley – 30   35   29   31 – 125

VU (11-8, 6-1) – 22   13   31   25 – 91

Three-point goals: VU 12 (Lange 3, Belton 3, Hooks 2, Tucker 2, Scott, Litte). Rebounds: VU 44 (Miller 10). Assists: VU 21 (Litte 6). Steals: VU 14 (Tucker 4). Blocked Shots: VU 7 (Lange 3, Guess 3). Turnovers: VU 29. Personal Fouls: VU 27. Fouled out: Lange. Technical Fouls: Wimbleduff (4 – 8:00).