Second quarter run dooms Lady Blazers against No. 5 Wabash Valley

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers returned to the home floor Wednesday night as the Lady Blazers hosted the No. 5-ranked Lady Warriors from Wabash Valley College in a game outside the regular Region 24 schedule.

The Lady Blazers battled tough against the highly ranked Warriors but were undone by a big 12-0 scoring run in the second quarter as Vincennes fell to Wabash Valley 78-65.

The game got off to a very unusual start as the Lady Warriors were assessed an administrative technical foul before the game, which VU capitalized on to take a 1-0 lead before the tip off.

Vincennes led for most of the opening quarter Wednesday night, with Wabash Valley using a late 5-0 run to jump in front and lead by the narrow margin of 18-15 after the first 10 minutes of play.

The Lady Warriors took their game to another level in the second quarter, opening the period on a 19-4 run to increase their lead to 37-19.

Vincennes would respond before the halftime break, scoring the final four points of the first half to cut the deficit to 43-27 at the break.

Coming out in the second half it looked like the Lady Warriors were going to pick up where the left off, increasing their lead to 21 at 48-27 early in the third quarter before the Lady Blazers would swing the momentum back with a big 10-0 run.

The Lady Blazers would continue to ride the home crowd momentum throughout the third quarter, outscoring Wabash Valley 18-4 and cutting the deficit back to seven points at 52-45.

Wabash Valley would regain composure and take a 58-49 lead into the fourth quarter of play.

The Warriors would grow their lead again early in the fourth quarter, using a 7-0 scoring run to take a 65-51 lead.

Vincennes would not go away quietly though, cutting the deficit back to single digits several times in the fourth quarter, including being within nine at 72-63 late in the fourth.

Wabash Valley was able to run the clock down and convert at the free throw line down the stretch, as the Lady Blazers fell by the final score of 78-65.

The Lady Trailblazers were led offensively by sophomore Marta Gutierrez (Alicante, Spain) who scored 16 of her game-high 21 points in the second half, while also leading the Lady Blazers with five big steals on the defensive end of the floor.

Freshman Ahmya Thomas (Phoenix, Ariz.) finished her night with 12 points, four assists and three steals, while freshman Emani Washington (Indianapolis, Ind.) came off the bench to add 10 points, four assists and three steals.

Freshman Delora Pricop (Satu Mare, Romania) finished off her 12th double-double of the season Wednesday night, finishing with 10 points and 15 rebounds, while also coming away with a pair of blocks.

The Lady Trailblazers will look to bounce back and get back in the win column when VU hits the road Saturday, Feb. 15 to take on Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill. at 2 p.m. eastern.

VU will return to the P.E. Complex, Wednesday, Feb. 19 when Vincennes hosts Rend Lake College at 5 p.m. eastern.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (65): Delora Pricop 4-8 2-2 10, Ahmya Thomas 4-11 4-6 12, Jazmyn Robey 1-7 0-0 2, Marta Gutierrez 7-13 6-6 21, Yanni Huggins 1-5 0-0 2, Iris Comesana 0-0 0-0 0, Emani Washington 4-10 2-2 10, Netala Dixon 4-10 0-0 8, Team 25-64 14-16 65.

Wabash Valley – 18   25   15   20 – 78

VU (13-13, 7-3) – 15   12   22   16 – 65

Three-point goals: VU 1 (Gutierrez). Rebounds: VU 39 (Pricop 15). Assists: VU 13 (Thomas 4, Washington 4). Steals: VU 12 (Gutierrez 5). Blocked Shots: VU 3 (Pricop 2). Turnovers: VU 25. Personal Fouls: VU 29. Fouled out: Pricop, Thomas, Robey. Technical Fouls: VU Gutierrez (2nd – 6:03), Thomas (4th – 9:00).