Ettrick, Virginia-Edward Waters will get their first taste of Division II action this weekend as they take part in the CIAA/SIAC Challenge hosted by Virginia State University. Joining the Lady Tigers in representing the SIAC are the Lady Tigers of Benedict College. On the CIAA side are the Panthers of Virginia Union University and the host school, Virginia State University. EWU will open up the Challenge on Friday evening at 6:00pm as they will battle Virginia Union, then will faceoff against Virginia State on Saturday afternoon at 4pm.
PREVIEWING EDWARD WATERS:
EWU enters the Challenge with a 2-0 record on the young season after a season opening 81-50 win at home against the University of Fort Lauderdale and a come-from-behind, 71-63 win against Coastal Georgia on Tuesday on the road. Through two games, the Lady Tigers are averaging 76.0 ppg, while giving up 56.5 to opponents. Edward Waters is shooting the basketball at a .418 clip from the floor, including a .340 average from three-point range.
Junior transfer guard Tatum Hayes leads the Purple & Orange in scoring through two games, averaging 17.0 points per game and connecting on .455 of her three-point shots. Hayes had her best performance on Tuesday at Coastal Georgia, with a 25 point, seven rebound effort in the win. JuCo transfer point guard Isis Smith is second on the team, averaging 13 ppg on .429 shooting.
PREVIEWING VIRGINIA UNION:
Virginia Union enters with a record of 1-1 after competing in the Millersville Conference Challenge, hosted by Millersville University. The Panthers lost their first contest of the season, 67-59 to East Stroudsburg, then squeaked out a 60-56 win against host school Millersville.
VUU is led by junior guard Ny Langley, who averages 21.0 ppg on .417 shooting, also adding .333 shooting from three-point range. Langley has twice posted double-doubles this season, scoring 22 points and 22 boards against East Stroudsburg and 20 points & 11 boards vs. Millersville. Senior guard Darryn Zeigler is just behind, averaging 17.0 ppg on .370 shooting.
PREVIEWING VIRGINIA STATE:
The Trojans plan to bounce back as played in a non-conference matchup against Chowan University on Wednesday falling to the Hawks 57-34. The Trojans struggled to rebound the ball as they allowed 32 points off second chance opportunities and were out rebounded 65 to 30.
Shayla Sweeney leads the team in scoring with 12 points per game while shooting 55% from the field. She also leads the team in free throws made with 15. Kylah Webb leads the team on defense as she has a team-high 20 rebounds averaging 6.7 per game and along with four blocks. Sommer Blakemore leads the team with seven steals while also bringing down six rebounds. Raijah Todd has also shown versatility averaging 10 points per game and leads the team with six assists.
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