Lady Blazers fall to Moberly Area to close out weekend ahead of home opener Wednesday

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers closed out another tough weekend on the road with a rematch against Moberly Area Community College in the final game of the 2023 Lady Raider Classic at Three Rivers College in Missouri.

The Trailblazers fell to the Lady Greyhounds 84-65 after getting a big 22-point, 16-rebound double double by sophomore Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France).

VU got off to a great start Saturday afternoon against Moberly Area, closing out a back-and-forth first quarter with a 14-13 lead over the Greyhounds.

Moberly Area looked to take the momentum back to begin the second quarter, using a 10-2 scoring run to take a 23-16 lead.

Moberly would later score 12 unanswered in the second period to increase their lead to 37-22.

VU would look to bounce back before halftime and close the margin but were unable to get a big scoring run of their own as Moberly headed into the locker room with a 43-26 advantage over the Trailblazers.

Moberly Area came out of the locker room for the second half looking to put the game away quickly and were able to grow their lead to 20 midway through the third quarter at 52-32.

Vincennes would trade baskets with the Greyhounds for the rest of period with the Trailblazers heading into the fourth quarter trailing Moberly 58-40.

VU would look to make a late run and try to take the lead back in the fourth quarter, cutting the Greyhounds lead down to 12 points at 71-59.

Moberly Area would then respond back and close out the game with five unanswered points to take the 84-65 victory over the Trailblazers.

VU was led offensively by another big double double by Elikya Baseyila who finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds and a pair of assists.

Sophomore Maycee Lange (Vincennes, Ind.) was the other VU scorer in double-figures, ending her day with 14 points and four rebounds.

Sophomore Johnai Wimbleduff (Indianapolis, Ind.) came off the bench to add seven points and two rebounds.

Freshman Karina Scott (Noblesville, Ind.) got off to a great start to the game, connecting on two three-point shots in the opening quarter and finished the game with six points and a team-high eight assists.

The Lady Blazers will return home where they will hit the floor at the Physical Education Complex for the first time this season when VU hosts Brescia JV Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. eastern.

The Lady Blazers will then host the VU Classic Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18, with the Lady Blazers taking on NJCAA Division III No. 3-ranked Owens Community College Friday at 7 p.m. eastern and Mineral Area College Saturday at 5 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (65) – Karina Scott 2-3 0-0 6, Giavonnie Belton 1-9 0-0 2, Brie Miller 3-5 0-0 6, Elikya Baseyila 9-15 4-9 22, Maycee Lange 6-9 1-2 14, Darryn Hood 0-3 2-5 2, Najra Voloder 1-2 0-0 2, Taylor Guess 1-7 2-6 4, Johnai Wimbleduff 2-4 2-2 7, Team 25-57 11-24 65.

Moberly Area – 13   30    15    26 – 84

VU (1-3) – 14    12    14    25 – 65

Three-point goals: VU 4 (Scott 2, Lange, Wimbleduff). Rebounds: VU 41 (Baseyila 16). Assists: VU 20 (Scott 8). Steals: VU 6 (Belton 2, Miller 2). Blocked Shots: VU 4 (Guess 2). Turnovers: VU 29. Personal Fouls: VU 26. Fouled out: Guess.