BALTIMORE, Md. – The Virginia Union University women's basketball team opened postseason play with a hard-fought 59-48 victory over Johnson C. Smith University in the opening round of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament.
With the win, the Lady Panthers advance to the CIAA Quarterfinals and continue their pursuit of a conference championship.
Bruni Martinez delivered a dominant performance, scoring 23 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to record a double-double. For her efforts, Martinez was named
Game MVP, setting the tone on both ends of the floor and providing a steady presence in key moments.
Virginia Union's leading scorers included:
After a competitive first half, the Lady Panthers made critical defensive adjustments in the second half, emphasizing rebounding and limiting second-chance opportunities for Johnson C. Smith.
"This was a hard-fought win tonight," said VUU Head Women's Basketball Coach Alico Dunk. "Hats off to Johnson C. Smith. They played extremely hard and extremely well. Their key standout was a key contributor for them. But we offset that in the second half by boxing her out and trying to limit them to one shot. Overall, our kids played well and executed our game plan in the second half. I'm just proud of the effort."
Virginia Union's defensive discipline and execution down the stretch allowed the Lady Panthers to seize control and secure the postseason victory.
Up Next
The Lady Panthers will face Fayetteville State University in the quarterfinals of the CIAA Tournament at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, in Baltimore, Md.
