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Vincennes University

Trailblazers Earn No. 2 Seed, Host Region 24 Quarterfinal

Trailblazers Earn No. 2 Seed, Host Region 24 Quarterfinal
March 7, 2026

VINCENNES, Ind. — The Vincennes University Women's Basketball team now turns its focus to postseason play after securing the No. 2 seed in the NJCAA Region 24 Tournament following a strong regular season that saw the Trailblazers finish 19–9 overall and 11–3 in Region 24 play.

In her first season leading the program, Head Coach Nyla Johnson has guided VU into one of the top positions in the region while earning the opportunity to host a quarterfinal matchup inside the P.E. Complex. "We're excited heading into the postseason," Johnson said. "To earn the No. 2 seed and host a first-round game is a great accomplishment for this group, especially in our first year building the program."

The Trailblazers will open tournament play Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 p.m. ET, hosting No. 7 Lincoln Trail College in the Region 24 Tournament quarterfinals. VU swept the regular-season series against the Statesmen, earning an 85–35 win in Vincennes on December 13 and a 68–60 victory on February 4 at Lincoln Trail.

Several Trailblazers were also recently recognized for their performance throughout the season, as sophomore center Dženifera Rieksta, sophomore guard Zion Hayes, and sophomore guard Netala Dixon were all named to the All–Region 24 Team. Rieksta leads the team with 12.7 points per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and adding 6.1 rebounds per contest. Hayes has averaged 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while Dixon has contributed 10.7 points per game and has been a key playmaker with 76 assists and 39 steals this season.

Johnson credited her team's resilience and belief throughout the year for putting the program in position to compete for a postseason title. "Our team has faced adversity throughout the season, but they've continued to respond because they believe in each other and the culture we're building," Johnson said. "Now it's about competing together and doing everything we can to extend our season."

If the Trailblazers advance past Lincoln Trail, they will move on to the Region 24 semifinals on Tuesday, March 10, at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, where they would face the winner of No. 3 Wabash Valley College and No. 6 Rend Lake College. Tip-off for that semifinal matchup is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.

The Region 24 Championship Game is scheduled for Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET, with the tournament champion earning an automatic berth into the NJCAA Division I National Tournament, to be held March 24-31 at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

To view the full Region 24 Women's Basketball Tournament bracket, click here.

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: