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Vincennes University

VU Suffers First League Setback at No. 17 SWIC

VU Suffers First League Setback at No. 17 SWIC
Box Score
January 28, 2026

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — The Vincennes University Women's Basketball team saw its Region 24 winning streak come to an end Wednesday night, falling 54–45 on the road to No. 17-ranked Southwestern Illinois College. The loss drops the Trailblazers to 13–7 overall and 5–1 in Region 24 play, marking their first league setback of the season against the undefeated Blue Storm and marking the end of the first half of league play.

Vincennes struggled to find its offensive rhythm early, scoring just five points in the opening quarter as Southwestern Illinois jumped out to a 16–5 lead. The Trailblazers responded with a strong second period, outscoring the Blue Storm 18–15 to pull within eight at halftime, but were unable to fully overcome the early deficit. Despite staying within striking distance through the third quarter, Southwestern Illinois maintained control down the stretch to secure the nine-point win.

Sophomore forward Taliya Heron was solid for VU, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while anchoring the defense and providing stability on both ends of the floor. Sophomore guard Emani Washington was the only other Trailblazer in double figures with 10 points, knocking down two three-pointers. Sophomore guard Zion Hayes led the team with nine rebounds.

As a team, VU shot 30.8 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from three-point range, while converting 10-of-17 free throws. Turnovers proved costly, as the Trailblazers committed 29 floor mistakes, which Southwestern Illinois converted into 16 points. The Blue Storm was held to 25.0 percent shooting from the field and 11.1 percent from three-point range but capitalized on extra possessions and 10 second-chance points to build separation.

First-year head coach Nyla Johnson was candid in her postgame assessment, pointing to focus and execution as the deciding factors. "We turned the ball over 29 times, shot just over 50 percent from the free-throw line, and you can't do that when you're playing a top-ranked team in the country," Johnson said. "Our lack of focus and preparation showed, and against good teams, they're not going to let you recover from that."

Despite her disappointment, Johnson also credited Heron's effort while challenging the team to respond. "Taliya was a bright spot for us today," she said. "She covered up a lot of things defensively and is starting to find her groove, and that's encouraging. But overall, our leadership must be better. We can't afford bad starts and bad finishes when you're playing teams like that."

Despite the setback, Johnson emphasized the need to regroup quickly as league play continues. "We've got to refocus and get ready for the next one," she said. "When you're in Region 24, every night matters, and we have to raise our level moving forward."

Vincennes will look to bounce back in Region 24 action on Saturday, January 31, returning home to host John A. Logan College at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Trailblazers won the first meeting between the teams 64–41 on December 10 in Carterville.

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