VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers hit the floor for the first time in 2024 Saturday afternoon, hosting Region 24 opponent John A. Logan College at the Physical Education Complex.
The Lady Blazers had to shake off some early rust from the long Holiday break but were able to come away with a good 84-71 victory over the Lady Vols, pushing their winning streak to five games.
VU got off to a slow start against the Lady Volunteers, playing their first game in almost a full month and John A. Logan took advantage, scoring nine of the first 11 points of the game.
VU answered back with eight unanswered to take a 10-9 lead, before the Lady Vols closed out the first quarter of play on an 8-2 scoring run to take a 17-12 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
John A. Logan looked to build on this momentum early in the second quarter, scoring the first six points of the second period.
The Lady Trailblazers looked to get back to their old form though, using a 13-0 scoring run to take a 25-23 lead, capped off by a big three-pointer by freshman Karina Scott (Noblesville, Ind.).
The two teams would trade baskets for the final five minutes of the quarter, with Logan evening the game before the break, heading into the locker room tied at 33-33.
VU looked to take the momentum back to begin the second half, outscoring the Lady Vols 10-3 to take a 43-38 lead and later increasing their lead to eight.
Vincennes scored 28 points in the third quarter alone to head into the final 10 minutes of action holding a 61-53 lead.
The Lady Trailblazers then looked to put the game away for good in the fourth quarter, building the first double-digit lead of the game at 74-63 before Logan would answer back and cut the lead back down to six.
VU would again respond with a 10-2 scoring run to help seal the 84-71 victory over the Lady Vols and securing the Lady Trailblazers' fifth straight victory.
The Lady Trailblazers were led offensively by freshman Destinee Hooks (Indianapolis, Ind.) who finished with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Freshman Makyla Tucker (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored in double figures off the bench for the Trailblazers, ending with 13 points, including hitting two of three from behind the three-point arc.
Sophomore Johnai Wimbleduff (Indianapolis, Ind.) was the third VU scorer in double figures, coming off the bench to finish with 10 points on the game.
Freshman Taylor Guess (Indianapolis, Ind.) returned to the starting lineup and finished with nine points and a team-high three blocks, while sophomore Maycee Lange (Vincennes, Ind.) just missed out on a double-double with seven points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Sophomore front court duo Brie Miller (Bainbridge, Ind.) and Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) each finished with eight points on the night, with Baseyila also coming away with seven rebounds and a pair of blocks.
The Lady Trailblazers will hit the road next week when VU travels to Belleville, Ill. for another Region 24 doubleheader against Southwestern Illinois College Wednesday, Jan. 17. Tip-off time for your Lady Trailblazers is 6 p.m. eastern.
VU will then travel to Olney, Ill. to close out the week, facing Olney Central College, Saturday, Jan. 20. Tip-off time for that game is also set for 6 p.m. eastern.
VINCENNES BOX SCORE
VINCENNES (84): Taylor Guess 3-6 3-3 9, Maycee Lange 3-8 1-1 7, Destinee Hooks 8-17 1-4 17, Karina Scott 2-7 0-0 6, Katrina Litte 2-9 0-0 4, Giavonnie Belton 0-2 2-2 2, Makyla Tucker 4-6 3-4 13, Brie Miller 3-3 2-2 8, Johnai Wimbleduff 5-9 0-1 10, Elikya Baseyila 2-3 4-7 8, Team 32-70 16-24 84.
John A. Logan – 17 16 20 18 – 71
VU (8-7, 3-0) – 12 21 28 23 – 84
Three-point goals: VU 4 (Scott 2, Tucker 2). Rebounds: VU 35 (Lange 9). Assists: VU 24 (Litte 7). Steals: VU 9 (Guess 3, Miller 3). Blocked Shots: VU 7 (Guess 3). Turnovers: VU 18. Personal Fouls: VU 18. Fouled out: None.
