VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Women’s Basketball team opened its 2026-27 season on a winning note, defeating Jackson State Community College 82-68 inside the Physical Education Complex.
Four Trailblazers scored in double figures as VU (1-0) used a strong second and third quarter to build a comfortable advantage and hold off a late push from the Green Jays. Freshman Brooklyn Davis led the Trailblazers with a game-high 21 points, shooting an efficient 9-for-13 from the field. Sophomore Silvia Moretti and freshman Mikalee “MK” Bennett each added 17 points, while sophomore Aniya Lawrence rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12.
“It’s always nice to compete against somebody else so we can be very cognizant of what we need to work on, but also just give our kids a chance to get back in the groove of game speed and game-time decisions,” VU Head Coach Nyla Johnson said.
The opening quarter was a closely contested battle, with Jackson State holding a narrow 17-16 advantage after the first 10 minutes. VU began to find its rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring the Green Jays 21-9 to take a 37-26 lead into halftime.
The Trailblazers continued to build momentum coming out of the locker room, turning in their highest-scoring quarter of the evening with 27 points in the third. VU carried a 64-42 advantage into the final period after outscoring Jackson State 27-16.
The Green Jays refused to go away quietly, putting together a 26-point fourth quarter while holding Vincennes to 18. However, the Trailblazers had built enough of a cushion to secure the 14-point season-opening victory. “I am proud of how we responded,” Johnson said. “I thought when plays needed to be made and runs needed to be stopped offensively, we made plays.”
Johnson credited her team’s offensive depth and ability to respond in key moments, particularly highlighting sophomore Silvia Moretti, Bennett and Davis. Moretti finished with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including three makes from beyond the arc. She also collected seven rebounds and dished out five assists.
Bennett added 17 points, five steals and four rebounds, while Lawrence contributed 12 points, six rebounds and three steals, connecting on three of her six three-point attempts. Davis provided an offensive spark with her 21 points in just 19 minutes of action, knocking down nine of her 13 field goal attempts.
The Trailblazers also received strong contributions from freshman Loida Colomer, who finished with eight assists, while sophomore Jalyn Davidson added four assists and two steals.
As a team, VU shot an impressive 55 percent from the field, connecting on 33 of its 60 attempts, including eight three-pointers. VU also controlled the interior, outscoring Jackson State 46-28 in the paint and holding a 38-29 advantage on the glass.
The Trailblazers’ defensive pressure helped create additional offensive opportunities, forcing 21 Jackson State turnovers and converting them into 30 points. VU finished with 14 steals and recorded 23 assists on its 33 made field goals.
Despite the victory, Johnson emphasized that the Trailblazers still have plenty of room for improvement, particularly on the defensive end. “We have got to mature from a stance of getting rushed up,” Johnson said. “We have a lot of younger players and a lot of inexperienced players.”
“Defensively, that’s something we have to keep working on. I was not pleased at all with our defensive effort today.”
“We have a lot of depth and we plan on using it,” Johnson said. “The good thing is that we’re still not at full strength yet. So, I’m excited to see when we get full strength and what that looks like.”
With their first victory secured, the Trailblazers will now turn their attention to improving their rebounding, defensive intensity and decision-making as they prepare for their next matchup. “I think right now at the beginning of the year, it is more about us and what we have to clean up versus what other people do,” Johnson said. “We have a lot of film to tear into.”
The Trailblazers will return to their home court Monday, November 9, when they host Volunteer State Community College inside the Physical Education Complex..
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:
- X (formerly Twitter): @VUTrailblazers | @VincennesWBB
- Facebook: Vincennes University Athletics
- Instagram: @VincennesUTrailblazers | @VincennesWBB
- Youtube (live & on demand content): BlazerVision
- Website: https://govutrailblazers.com
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