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Vincennes University

Trailblazers Advance Past Lincoln Trail in Region 24 Quarterfinal

Trailblazers Advance Past Lincoln Trail in Region 24 Quarterfinal
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March 8, 2026

VINCENNES, Ind. — The Vincennes University Women's Basketball team opened postseason play with a hard-fought victory Sunday afternoon, defeating No. 7 seed Lincoln Trail College 65–62 in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Region 24 Tournament at the P.E. Complex. The win improves the Trailblazers to 20–9 overall and sends VU into the Region 24 semifinals after the final home game of the season.

The postseason matchup proved to be tightly contested throughout. VU held a 19–15 edge after the opening quarter before Lincoln Trail responded to take an 18–11 second period and carry a 33–30 lead into halftime. The Trailblazers regrouped after the break, limiting Lincoln Trail to just nine points in the third quarter to reclaim the lead before a 23-point fourth quarter helped VU hold off a late push and secure the three-point victory.

Sophomore guard Zion Hayes led the Trailblazers offensively with a standout 26-point performance, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and knocking down three three-pointers while adding seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Netala Dixon followed with 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds, converting 7-of-10 from the free-throw line, several of which came in the final minute, while also contributing three assists and three steals.

As a team, VU shot 40.0 percent from the field while controlling the glass with a 39–32 rebounding advantage, including 12 offensive rebounds that helped produce 11 second-chance points. The Trailblazers also forced 17 Lincoln Trail turnovers and converted those opportunities into 15 points while holding the Statesmen to 36.8 percent shooting for the game.

First-year Head Coach Nyla Johnson credited her team's resilience in a postseason environment where every possession mattered. "We knew coming in that no games in March are easy," Johnson said. "Lincoln Trail was very prepared and battled the entire game, but our kids found a way to make one more play when it mattered. I'm proud of the way they responded to adversity and stayed together to finish the game."

Johnson also highlighted the collective nature of the performance, noting that different players stepped up at key moments. "Not everyone is going to have their best night every game, but the beauty of this team is that someone else can step up when it's needed," Johnson said. "Zion and Netala made some big offensive plays, but Aniya gave us toughness and energy defensively, and I thought our group battled together from start to finish."

With the win, VU advances to the NJCAA Region 24 Tournament semifinals, which will be hosted at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois. The Trailblazers will face No. 3 seed Wabash Valley College on Tuesday, March 10, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The two teams split their regular-season meetings, with VU earning a 76–65 victory at home on January 24 before falling 75–49 on the road February 28.

Hear more from Coach Johnson by clicking here.

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