Baseyila’s double-double propels Lady Blazers to win on Play 4 Kay Night 

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers partnered again with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund Wednesday night to host the annual Play 4 Kay game at Vincennes University.

The Lady Blazers were boosted by a big double-double by sophomore Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) who's 16 points and 16 rebounds pushed the Lady Blazers to a big 101-76 victory over Southwestern Illinois College.

Vincennes got off to a good start Wednesday night, quickly building a 16-10 advantage over the Lady Blue Storm before SWIC battled back to even the game at 19-19.

The score would remain tied until the Lady Blazers closed out the first quarter of play on an 8-2 scoring run to take a 29-23 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.

VU continued to add on in the second quarter, outscoring the Lady Blue Storm 14-2 to increase the lead to double digits and later using another 7-0 scoring run to build the largest lead of the half at 55-35.

SWIC would answer back before half but were only able to cut three points off the Vincennes lead before the break, with VU leading 55-38 at halftime.

Vincennes looked to fully take control of the game in the second half, using six straight points to grow their lead to 69-43 midway through the third quarter and holding a 76-53 lead heading into the fourth after a SWIC basket at the buzzer.

The two teams traded baskets for most of the fourth quarter with SWIC unable to put together a big scoring run to shrink the VU lead.

The Lady Blazers cruised down the final stretch of the game as VU picked up the 101-76 victory, surpassing the century mark for the seventh time this season.

Vincennes was led offensively by sophomore Elikya Baseyila who picked up a monster double-double, her ninth of the season and 21st of her VU career.

Baseyila ended the game with 16 points and 16 rebounds, as well as a team-high three blocks on the evening.

Freshman Destinee Hooks (Indianapolis, Ind.), who earned NJCAA Division I Player of the Week honors Wednesday morning, successfully defended this honor with another strong performance with 18 points, six rebounds and a team-high seven assists. Hooks also ended with three steals and a pair of blocks.

Freshman Giavonnie Belton (Indianapolis, Ind.) came off the bench to add 15 points and a pair of steals, while fellow freshman Karina Scott (Noblesville, Ind.) ended her night with 13 points, four assists and a team-high four steals.

Sophomore Najra Voloder (Konjic, Bosnia) had a big game off the bench for the Lady Blazers, scoring a season-high 11 points and just missing out on a double-double with eight rebounds.

Freshman Makyla Tucker (Indianapolis, Ind.) came off the bench to finish with nine points and six assists, while sophomores Brie Miller (Bainbridge, Ind.) and Katrina Litte (Valmiera, Latvia) each ended with eight points. Miller adding four rebounds, while Litte finished with four assists and three steals.

The Lady Trailblazers will return to the Physical Education Complex floor this weekend for the final time during the 2023-24 season when VU hosts Olney Central College Saturday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. eastern on Sophomore Night.

Vincennes defeated the Lady Blue Knights 83-73 earlier this season in Olney behind 20 points, nine rebounds and six steals by Destinee Hooks.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

Vincennes (101): Brie Miller 4-5 0-0 8, Elikya Baseyila 6-8 4-6 16, Destinee Hooks 8-23 2-3 18, Karina Scott 5-8 0-0 13, Katrina Litte 3-6 0-0 8, Giavonnie Belton 6-15 0-0 15, Makyla Tucker 2-7 4-4 9, Najra Voloder 5-6 1-2 11, Maycee Lange 1-3 0-0 3, Team 40-81 11-15 101.

Southwestern Illinois – 23   15   15   23 – 76

VU (15-9, 10-1) – 29   26   21   25 – 101

Three-point goals: VU 10 (Belton 3, Scott 3, Litte 2, Tucker, Lange). Rebounds: VU 47 (Baseyila 16). Assists: VU 25 (Hooks 7). Steals: VU 16 (Scott 4). Blocked Shots: VU 8 (Baseyila 3). Turnovers: VU 16. Personal Fouls: VU 17. Fouled out: None. Technical Fouls: Belton (2 – 1:44).