VINCENNES, Ind. – Heading into Thursday night's NJCAA Division I Midwest District Semifinal matchup with the Rend Lake Warriors, the Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers had not lost a game since March 6.
The massive 10-game winning streak did come to an end however, as the Lady Warriors picked up the 83-71 win at the P.E. Complex to advance to the Midwest District Championship game.
All signs looked good for the Blazers early, after Rend Lake scored the first basket, VU went on a 14-4 scoring run to take a seven points lead midway through the first quarter.
Rend Lake would bounce back but were only able to close the margin to four points after the first 10 minutes of play.
VU was aided by an impressive showing out of sophomore point guard and first team All-Region 24 member Shaila Beeler, who scored 11 of VU's 23 points in the first quarter of action.
The Warriors would take the lead from VU in the second quarter after a 7-0 scoring run gave Rend Lake a five-point lead.
This lead would hold heading into halftime, with VU trailing 40-35 at the break.
The third quarter saw rapid swings on both sides, with Rend Lake growing the lead to 10 points and the Lady Blazers cutting the margin down to just two within a matter of minutes.
Rend Lake would get their lead back to five points heading into the fourth quarter, leading 62-57.
Vincennes would again cut the Rend Lake advantage down to just a basket in the fourth quarter but were not able to take the lead back as a late game scoring run by the Warriors clinched the 12 points victory for Rend Lake.
"We didn't play horribly, but our execution was off," VU Hall of Fame head coach Harry Meeks said. "I thought we got frustrated on defense several times. In the overall, total picture, I didn't think we played that well. But then you have to look at Rend Lake. That first half we pretty much played them even, but in the last four minutes of the first half, that's when we got down by five."
"We came out in the second half, we talked about what we needed to do to get back into the game and our execution was just not very good at all. I know the defense tightened up and got better and I think that had a lot to do with it. Rend Lake played a really good basketball game."
"This is two years in a row that we've lost to Rend Lake in the District tournament and we're just going to have to get better and be able to play in a big game. We've never shied away from playing anybody. Most of those kids will be back next year, so we'll have beat them again. Most of Wabash Valley's kids will be back, so we're just going to have to get better and work harder."
All five starters for VU would reach double-figures Thursday night, led by Amani Brown, who would finish her night with 19 points, while also adding a pair of assists.
Shaila Beeler would finish the game with 15 points, while also adding a team-high six assists.
The frontcourt duo of Alexis Radcliff and Nina Blade held their own on the offensive side of the floor, with each player recording a double-double.
Radcliff and Blade combined to grab 12 of VU's 15 offensive rebounds on the night.
Radcliff would finish with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Blade ended her night with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Reeva Hammelman finished with 10 points, while also adding three rebounds and three assists.
"Our two inside girls, they basically carried us. Nina and Alexis scoring around the basket. I thought we could have played a little better defense in the post," Meeks added. "They lobbed over us several times and we were unable to put pressure on the girl making the pass, I think that hurt us a little."
"Offensively, we got plenty of shots close to the basket. I think we shot under 50-percent on inside shots and you need to make more that 50-percent of those. Our guard play was a little spotty at times and the spotty part came as we didn't shoot the ball very well. We got good shots and we outscored them everywhere but the free throw line. I don't think we foul that much, but they called a lot of fouls on us today."
The Lady Blazers fall to 17-4 on the season and must now wait to see if they will receive one of eight at-large bids to the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Tournament in Lubbock, Texas, this Sunday.
The NJCAA Selection Sunday show will be streamed on the NJCAA Network, with the Women's bracket being announced at 5:30 p.m., April 11.
"I think it's going to be really tough for us to get an at-large bid. Since we lost to Rend Lake, they jump over us and we won't get three teams in the tournament from this Region. I think we'll have a very difficult time making it to the National Tournament. Although we played a full Division I schedule and some of the other team didn't, I think our record indicates that we would be a good team to consider for an at-large berth."
