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Vincennes University

Trailblazers Fall to No. 15 Southwestern Illinois in Regular Season Finale

Trailblazers Fall to No. 15 Southwestern Illinois in Regular Season Finale
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March 3, 2026

VINCENNES, Ind. — The Vincennes University Women's Basketball team closed out the regular season Tuesday evening on Foster and Adoption Awareness Night with a 73–57 loss to NJCAA No. 15 and undefeated Southwestern Illinois College in Region 24 play at the P.E. Complex. The defeat drops the Trailblazers to 19–9 overall and 10–3 in region action.

Despite the final margin, VU competed strongly through the opening half and carried a 37–31 lead into halftime after a strong second quarter. Southwestern Illinois responded after the break, outscoring the Trailblazers 42–20 in the second half, including a decisive fourth quarter that allowed the Blue Storm to pull away.

Sophomore post Dženifera Rieksta led the Trailblazers with 22 points and a team-high eight rebounds, shooting 7-of-14 from the field, 2-4 from three-point range, and 6-of-7 at the free-throw line. Sophomore guard Zion Hayes followed with 13 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Netala Dixon added 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

As a team, VU shot 34.4 percent from the field and finished with 16 assists on 22 made baskets, while collecting 15 offensive rebounds and netting 13 points from those offensive rebounds. Overall, the Trailblazers held a 40–31 edge on the glass but struggled to contain Southwestern Illinois' offensive efficiency, as the visitors shot 50.8 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range, while scoring 12 points off VU turnovers.

First-year Head Coach Nyla Johnson credited Southwestern Illinois for its composure late in the game. "I thought their guards stayed composed and made plays when they needed to," Johnson said. "In the second half we didn't respond the way we needed to, especially when things got tough."

Johnson also pointed to execution down the stretch as a key factor. "We had a really strong second quarter and executed well during that stretch," she said. "But in the third and fourth quarter we didn't execute the way we had earlier, and that allowed them to take control."

With the regular season complete, VU now turns its attention to the NJCAA Region 24 Tournament. The Trailblazers have earned the No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 Lincoln Trail College on Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 p.m. ET inside the P.E. Complex. VU won both regular season meetings against Lincoln Trail, including an 85–35 victory in Vincennes on December 13 and a 68–60 road win on February 4.

Hear more from Coach Johnson by clicking here.

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