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Vincennes University

Trailblazers Sweep Chicago Road Trip

Trailblazers Sweep Chicago Road Trip
Box Score Box Score
November 8, 2025

CHICAGO, Ill. — The Vincennes University Women's Basketball team capped off a perfect weekend in the Windy City with two strong road victories, defeating Richard J. Daley College 66–45 on Friday, November 7, and following up with an impressive 65–49 win over No. 25 Olive-Harvey College on Saturday, November 8. The Trailblazers improved to 3–1 overall heading into a lengthy break before their next matchup.

Friday: VU 66, Richard J. Daley 45 — Balanced Effort Carries Trailblazers

Vincennes opened the weekend with a steady performance at Daley, pulling away in the middle quarters behind balanced scoring and disciplined defense. After holding a narrow one-point lead after the first period, the Trailblazers controlled play the rest of the way, outscoring Daley 39–21 over the middle two frames to build a double-digit advantage they would never surrender.

Sophomore forward Dženifera Rieksta led the way with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting and five rebounds, continuing her efficient start to the season. Sophomore Netala Dixon added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while sophomore Zion Hayes posted nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Freshman guard Aniya Lawrence chipped in 11 points, connecting on 4-of-7 attempts, as the Trailblazers shot a strong 47 percent from the field.

VU's defensive execution limited Daley to just 31 percent shooting, while the Trailblazers held a 41–15 advantage on the boards and scored 42 points in the paint. Vincennes also capitalized on turnovers, converting 14 points off Daley miscues to maintain control throughout. "We went against a zone all week in practice to prepare, and when the time came, our kids executed the plan very well," first-year head coach Nyla Johnson said. "We still have to clean up our free throws and turnovers, but I thought our defensive effort and ability to control the tempo really stood out."

Saturday: VU 65, No. 25 Olive-Harvey 49 — Heron, Rieksta Lead Statement Win

VU carried that momentum into Saturday's matchup at Olive-Harvey College, facing a nationally ranked opponent that entered the weekend No. 25 in the NJCAA Division I Preseason Coaches Poll. The Trailblazers embraced the challenge, using strong defensive rotations and veteran leadership to secure the 16-point road victory.

Sophomore Taliya Heron paced the Trailblazers with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go along with nine rebounds, while Rieksta added another 14 points and nine boards. Hayes contributed 13 points and eight rebounds, and Dixon added eight points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

VU dominated the glass 48–23, including 14 offensive boards. The Trailblazers' inside presence translated into 46 points in the paint and 14 second-chance points, allowing them to control the tempo and extend their lead late. "I'm so proud of our team for going into such a tough environment against a ranked opponent and finding a way to win," Johnson said. "We're still not playing our best basketball — turnovers and free throws continue to hurt us — but our kids are tough and resilient. When we needed baskets, we leaned on our sophomores, and they delivered."

Johnson credited her veterans for their composure and her freshmen for making key contributions in both games. "Jalyn Davidson and our young players came in ready," Johnson said. "They handled everything thrown at them and really helped us over the hump in some difficult moments. This was a big step for their confidence."

VU's defense once again proved to be the difference, holding Olive-Harvey to 2-of-13 from beyond the arc, 34 percent overall from the field, dictating the tempo throughout the game. "These were two really hard environments to go into and play," Johnson added. "Our team weathered every storm, took every punch, and delivered punches of their own. That's what you want to see early in the season."

With back-to-back road wins and growing confidence on both ends of the floor, the Trailblazers will now take a brief pause in their schedule before returning to action. Vincennes will be back on the court Tuesday, November 18, when they travel to Danville Area Community College for a 6:30 p.m. ET tip-off. The matchup marks the start of another key stretch of road games before VU returns home later this month.

Join the Journey

As always, fans can keep up with the Vincennes University Women's Basketball squad all year long through a number of ways: