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VSU Unsuccessful Against ECSU
The Virginia State University Lady Trojans tracked to Elizabeth City, North Carolina to participate in a head-to-head competition with the Lady Vikings of Elizabeth City State University. VSU’s record readjusts to 5 – 7 Overall, 1 – 2 CIAA as they were beaten 79 – 76 by ECSU. “Age ain’t nothing but a number” seemed to be the phrase ESCU used for motivation. Head Coach Tara Owens’ roster was stocked full of sophomores and freshmen. The 1993 VSU Graduate relied more on her team’s talent of teamwork rather than the ethics of experience. The game’s tip-off found its way into the hands of VSU’s #24 Ravin Yancey, but it found its way inside a hoop after ECSU’s #00 Celeste Trahan put up a lay-up. The Lady Trojan’s first lead occurred when #20 Jennifer Rhodan hit 1 of 2 free throws; which made the score 7 – 6 VSU. The lead did not exist long as the Lady Vikings went up 9 – 7 after #4 Deanna Price pulled up behind the arc and made a three-pointer. At the 4:53 mark, VSU was in the forefront 26 – 24. The Lady Vikings re-possessed the lead at 4:00 minutes when #4 Deanna Price found freshman center #00 Celeste Trahan cutting to the post. Trahan’s two-pointer made the score 28-27 ECSU. The Arkansas Baptist product returned on the very next play to hit the floor hard, but not before her shot attempt banked into the basket. Trahan was far from being finished making her statement of just how much determination she had. In the last seconds of the first half, Trahan dropped two more points for a sum of 15 first half points as well as give her team a 39 – 32 half-time lead. In the second half, ECSU continued to use their talent in teamwork to effectively operate on offense and dominate defensively. The Lady Vikings’ 7 point lead at half-time was a pocket of pennies compared to the 13, 16, and even 18 point advantage they built over the Lady Trojans. However, at the 7:00 minutes mark, Coach Evans’ stressed and starving bunch of ballplayers made a buffet of ECSU’s point margin. The Lady Trojans dug deep and played hard as they dove for loose balls and knocked down critical shot after critical shot. With 13.9 seconds remaining, “Run and Gun” Rhodan rifled a three-pointer that instantly installed nagging nervousness in the knees and hearts of the Lady Vikings. Rhodan’s three-pointer put an exclamation point on VSU’s 22 – 6 scoring run. But, time ticked away a bit too quickly before the Lady Trojans could be crowned as “Comeback Queens.” Leading in scoring for the Lady Vikings was #00 Celeste Trahan with 29 points. Other ESCU scoring was provided by #40 Tiffany Smith with 15 points and #4 Deanna Price and #12 Venkia Jones each with 10 points. In addition, Trahan grabbed 19 rebounds as teammate Price snagged 6 steals and accumulated 5 assists. #10 Asheley Alexander’s 16 points led scoring for the Lady Trojans. Additional scoring was produced by #20 Jennifer Rhodan with 15 points, #21 Erica Glasper with 13 points, and #52 Areyal Hall with 12 points. Rhodan led in the assists’ category with 5 and #34 Laurice “Lockdown” Lockhart rejected 4 shots. |
