Richmond, VA -- The Fayetteville State women's basketball team secured a commanding 70-52 victory over Virginia Union on the road Monday. The Broncos, now 15-7 overall and 10-3 in the CIAA, held the Panthers to a mere 8.3 percent from beyond the arc, with Virginia Union hitting just one of their 12 attempts from three-point range.
Fayetteville State's offense was led by Talia Trotter, who scored 19 points and grabbed two steals. Keayna McLaughlin contributed 12 points and two blocks, while Nyah Wilkins added 10 points off the bench. The Broncos also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Virginia Union 31-30, with Ashara Hayes leading the way with nine rebounds.
Defensively, Fayetteville State was relentless, forcing 25 turnovers from Virginia Union, which translated into 24 points on the offensive end. Daziyahna Wilson was a standout on defense with two steals.
The game started with Fayetteville State taking a 16-11 lead by the end of the first quarter, thanks to their strong play in the paint, where they scored 12 of their 16 points. The Broncos extended their lead to 22-15 in the second quarter before going on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a basket from McLaughlin, to push the lead to 31-15. Despite a push from the Panthers, Fayetteville State maintained a 33-22 advantage at halftime, continuing their dominance in the paint with 12 of their 17 second-quarter points coming from close range.
In the third quarter, Fayetteville State preserved their lead and went on a 5-0 run, capped by a basket from Trotter, to extend their lead to 51-36. The Broncos continued to excel near the basket, scoring 10 of their 18 third-quarter points in the paint.
Fayetteville State sealed the game in the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run, finished off by a layup from Kanyah O'Neal, to secure the final score of 70-52. The Broncos capitalized on their opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of their 19 fourth-quarter points in the paint.
Virginia Union, now 16-5 overall and 9-2 in the CIAA, was led by Rori Cox, who scored 16 points and had three assists, and Taniyah Greene, who added 14 points and five rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Panthers struggled with turnovers and poor shooting from beyond the arc, which ultimately contributed to their defeat.
The Broncos will host Winston-Salem State on Thursday, February 13th at 5:30 PM as they celebrate 50 years of the CIAA Women's Tournament and #PaintHerStory. Follow the action at fsubroncos.com/gameday.
