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A Shot Short The CIAA’s Orange & Blue Lady Trojans of Virginia State University navigated to North Carolina for their road rumble against the CVAC’s Green & White Lady Trojans of Mount Olive College. Both Lady Trojan troops were fresh out of tough two-day tournaments. VSU suffered fingernail losses in the Patriot Inn / Huskies Tip-Off Classic in Bloomsburg, PA while MOC sped out of South Carolina with their first two season triumphs from the Nu Skin Tip-Off Classic at USC-Aiken. Despite developing a 36 – 32 halftime lead, VSU was defeated by MOC 66 – 65. VSU entered a partially packed Kornegay Arena all set to crash MOC’s Appreciation Night and first non-conference home competition since January 8, 2004. The Lady Trojans’ #21 Erica Glasper’s hot hands were still sizzling from shoot around as she gave VSU a 4 – 0 lead with a lay-up and made field goal. However, the first of three ties in the first half occurred after MOC’s #14 Keona Corley dished to #40 Sierra Medeiros for a made basket and then again to #15 Meaghan Vanderhorst for a 12-foot jumper. At the 10:55 mark, #3 Katania Walker birthed the eighth lead change of the game when she tip-toed to the three-point arc and successfully swished a buzzer beater basket. Then, the VSU Lady Trojans jumped to a 20 – 14 lead with two lay-ups by #4 Janae Johnson and then a twine tickler by #15 Bren Rosser. The six point scoring spurt frustrated MOC’s Head Coach into taking her first full timeout. The MOC Lady Trojans leaped back to tie the game at 21 – 21 when #30 Ebony Green hit a three-pointer and #33 Alisa Jones popped back up in the post to sink her sixth shot of the first half. Nevertheless, VSU’s Rosser ripped through MOC’s defensive maze to cap the Lady Trojans’ 8 – 3 scoring run. The Evans & Johnson squadron led 36 – 30 until MOC Lady Trojans’ Medeiros shot a towering two-pointer to shortchange the VSU Lady Trojans with just a four-point advantage at the break. VSU shot 52% from the field and a scorching 70% from the free throw line in the first half. VSU’s offense rode comfortably on the back of New Jersey freshman Rosser with her eight first half points. In addition, the Lady Trojans’ overbearing defensive pressure forced MOC to commit 14 first half turnovers and shoot a fair 44% from the field. Furthermore, VSU shutdown MOC’s season superstar #32 Teneal Boone, whom averaged 20 points in their last two games, to a total of five points in the game and cooled off freshman forward Jones to only score five second half points. However with 15 minutes remaining, MOC’s #24 Anita Rogers reigned with three three-pointers to aid in tying the game at 45 – 45. Then, MOC took advantage of VSU’s four minute scoring drought to build a point margin of seven. VSU Lady Trojans tracked back from the 56 – 49 deficit to lead 62 – 59 with a hoop loop of lay-ups and then yet another three-pointer from Sports Management student-athlete Walker. The Lady Trojans of VSU led 65 – 63 with 1:35 left to go. After MOC’s sophomore guard Corley hit a free-throw, she was dished a defensive rebound in which she sped down court and shared with #10 Tomeka Prichard for her only, but game winning basket of the game. Leading in scoring for the VSU Lady Trojans was #21 Erica Glasper with 15 points. Additional scoring contributions were given by #3 Katania Walker with 13 points and #4 Janae Johnson with 11 points. Visual Art & Design major #43 Felicia Gibbs dropped in 6 points, but captained the Lady Trojans’ defense with 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, 5 steals, and 3 assists. After a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday, the Lady Trojans look to face Lenoir Rhyne College for their first home game on Tuesday, November 29, 2005. The game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Cannot make it to the game? Well tune into 91.3 WVST and listen to Mr. Sean Robertson, Mr. James Yedel, and Mr. Jerry Crawford as they deliver all the play-by-play action!
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