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Virginia Union University Athletics

WBB Nix 1080
49
Johnson C. Smith JCSU-WBB 2-3 (0-1 CIAA)
53
Winner Virginia Union VUU-WBB 4-1 (1-0 CIAA)
Johnson C. Smith JCSU-WBB
2-3 (0-1 CIAA)
49
Final
53
Virginia Union VUU-WBB
4-1 (1-0 CIAA)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Johnson C. Smith JCSU-WBB 17 9 16 7 49
Virginia Union VUU-WBB 9 18 13 13 53

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women's Basketball Holds Off Johnson C. Smith 53-49

The Virginia Union Panthers improved to 4-1 overall (1-0 CIAA) with a hard-fought 53–49 victory over the Golden Bulls Wednesday night at home in Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond. JCSU dropped to 2-3 (0-1 CIAA) after falling just short in a gutsy, back-and-forth game.

Game Flow & Turning Points
  • Johnson C. Smith came out strong, opening the game with a 17–9 first-quarter lead. Their early aggression — attacking the basket and pushing tempo — forced the Panthers to chase from the start. 
  • VUU settled in during the second quarter, outscoring JCSU 18–9 to close the gap to just one point by halftime (27–26). 
  • The second half remained contested, with neither side ever leading by more than a few possessions. In the fourth quarter, VUU's defense tightened and key free throws and baskets pushed the Panthers ahead.
Standout Performers & Team Effort
  • Hailey Blackwell led the way for VUU with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting (including 2-for-2 from three) and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line — a clutch scoring line down the stretch. 
  • Karimah Nix added 14 points of her own, going 6-of-8 from the floor and also knocking down free throws when it mattered.
  • Supporting efforts came from Maya Robinson (8 points, 6 rebounds), Ramsey Cureton (8 points), and Serenity Johnson (3 points + rebound + defensive hustle). Their contributions helped VUU stay afloat through JCSU's early surge. 
  • As a team, VUU shot 19-of-50 (38.0 %), 5-of-16 from three (31.3 %), and hit 10-of-14 free throws (71.4 %). They pulled down 32 total rebounds and scored 20 second-chance points — a testament to their grit and execution under pressure. 
On the Johnson C. Smith side, La'Niya Simes (16 points) and Salote Franklin (14 points) led the scoring, but their efforts weren't enough to hold off a scrappy VUU team. JCSU shot 16-of-42 overall (38.1 %), 2-of-8 from deep (25.0 %), and had 10 offensive rebounds for 29 total boards — but couldn't control the final minutes. 

Coach's Perspective
As noted after the game, VUU Head Women's Basketball Coach Alico Dunk said:
"We got off to a real slow start, but a lot of that had to do with Johnson C. Smith. They came out, were really aggressive and attacked the basket. … Hailey Blackwell was really big for us late in the game. … I also have to give credit to Karima Nix as well. … Most importantly … we played some really great defense down the stretch and made some big stops when we needed to."
His remarks captured the resilience the Panthers showed after being down early, and underscored the clutch contributions from his players.
What This Means & What's Next
With the win, VUU sets a confident tone for their 2025-26 CIAA campaign. The ability to weather an early surge, lock in defensively, and execute under pressure will be critical — and on this night, the Panthers proved they have the poise.

Next Game: Saturday, December 6, against University of North Carolina at Pembroke Braves (UNC-Pembroke) at Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond.
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