INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State put together one of its most balanced offensive performances of the early season on Tuesday night, shooting 50 percent from the field and placing four players in double figures on the way to a 90–76 road win over Bluefield State (1-3, 0-0 CIAA). Senior guard Ahjanae Young led the Yellow Jackets with 22 points, while senior forward Lillian Jackson delivered a dominant two-way outing with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Senior guard Baylee Goins added 18 points, and senior guard Latisha Parris chipped in 14, helping State outrebound the Big Blues 55–36 and pile up 44 points in the paint. Defensively, WVSU blocked 12 shots, forced 29 turnovers, and turned those mistakes into 30 points to improve to 2–2 on the season.

West Virginia State opened the night with early energy, jumping out to a 5–0 lead behind a Baylee Goins layup and her first three of the evening. Bluefield State responded with pressure and pace, turning defense into offense as Jhakia Gist and Tianna Rhodes fueled an 8–6 turnaround with steals and fast-break finishes.

State briefly regained control at 11–10 on an Ahjanae Young layup, but the Yellow Jackets' turnover issues began to stack up. WVSU committed 10 turnovers in the period, including three on consecutive possessions midway through the frame, allowing Bluefield State to stay in rhythm despite shooting just 6-for-21 from the field.

Imani Hickman was disruptive defensively, tallying two blocks, multiple deflections, and helping ignite transition, while Lillian Jackson provided a second-chance bucket late to pull WVSU within two. But Bluefield State closed the quarter with the final punch — a Jasmine Jenkins deep three with :44 left — pushing the Big Blues ahead 19–15 before Jackson's jumper at :24 made it 19–17 at the horn.

Despite trailing, State dominated the glass 15–9, but Bluefield State's five steals, nine points off turnovers, and eight points off the bench carried them to the early advantage.

West Virginia State erupted in the second quarter, flipping a two-point deficit into a commanding halftime lead behind a dominant two-way stretch. The Jackets opened the period with seven straight points, sparked by a Baylee Goins steal that led to a Latisha Parris fast-break layup and a Lillian Jackson jumper to push State in front 21–19.

From there, WVSU took complete control. The Jackets forced 10 Bluefield State turnovers in the quarter, repeatedly turning defense into instant offense. Goins, Parris, Young, Rogers and Hickman combined for six steals, while State's interior defense produced six blocks in the period alone — including emphatic denials from Goins, Jackson, Young, and Brooks.

On the other end, WVSU caught fire. Goins splashed two more threes early in the frame, then Young drilled another before scoring in transition to make it 35–21. The run ballooned into a 24–4 surge, capped by another Goins three and a Jackson layup off an offensive board.

Bluefield State managed to stop the avalanche with interior buckets from Shanon Hoover and Tinasia Spencer, plus a pair of technical free throws, but the Big Blues never slowed the Jackets' rhythm. Emily Anthony provided a lift off the bench with four straight free throws, and Jackson added another inside finish before Parris iced the half with two more foul shots in the final seconds.

WVSU outscored Bluefield State 34–19 in the period, shooting 11-of-19 from the floor and 5-of-6 from deep. The Jackets dominated the paint (10 points), the break (7 fast-break points), and second chances (8 points) while holding Bluefield State to just 33 percent shooting and forcing turnover after turnover.

At halftime, West Virginia State led 51–38.

Bluefield State opened the third quarter with a quick jumper from Tianna Rhodes, but West Virginia State held firm and matched the Big Blues stride for stride in a high-tempo, physical frame where both offenses found consistent scoring.

After a shaky opening minute that included turnovers by Goins and Parris, WVSU settled in behind Lillian Jackson, who knocked down a jumper and then scored inside off a Byrd feed to push the lead back to 55–40. From that point, the quarter became a trading match.

Bluefield State stayed afloat with perimeter shooting — Jayla Sample and Mia Little each buried threes in the period — and efficient bench minutes, combining for eight bench points. The Big Blues were also aggressive getting downhill, earning seven free throws in the quarter and converting six.

But every time Bluefield State threatened to build momentum, State answered. Jackson stacked another pair of baskets and hit four free throws, while Ahjanae Young took over the middle stretch, scoring three times at the rim and adding a jumper to stabilize the lead. Goins
contributed defensively with multiple blocks and rebounds before checking out late in the quarter, and Hickman added several rim protections as well.

Despite a late push from Bluefield State — capped by Rhodes' deep three with :06 left — the Jackets' interior scoring and command of the defensive glass held the line. WVSU won the rebounding battle 15–6 in the quarter and continued to dominate second-chance opportunities.

Both teams scored 23 points in the frame, and State entered the fourth up 74–61.

West Virginia State closed out the night with controlled, defensive-minded basketball, answering every Bluefield State push and maintaining a multi-possession cushion throughout the final period.

The Jackets struck first on a second-chance tip-in from Imani Hickman, who followed her own offensive board at 9:10 to make it 76–61. Moments later, Latisha Parris turned a steal into a coast-to-coast layup, stretching the margin to 78–61 and forcing the Big Blues to chase.

Bluefield State clawed back with paint scoring — Rhodes, Drayton-Gill, Jenkins and Spencer combined for 12 points inside — but every surge was short-lived. The Big Blues also generated five steals in the quarter, yet State's defense responded by winning the glass 15–6 and cutting off second-chance opportunities.

A pair of free throws from Azori Edwards briefly trimmed the deficit to 78–65 at 8:16, but WVSU's poise held. After a defensive stretch that featured stops from Hickman, Jackson, and Young, Jennessee Byrd knocked down a jumper at 5:12 to push the lead back to 80–67.

Jackson and Young then combined for a key sequence midway through the frame — Jackson blocking a layup attempt, grabbing multiple rebounds, and setting up transition. Young finished a fast-break layup at the 3:00 mark, extending the lead to 86–69.

Bluefield State made one last push behind Jasmine Jenkins, who scored twice late to bring it within 88–74, but State's interior finishing stayed steady. Jackson sealed the night with another layup at :54, her fifth field goal of the half, before Spencer hit a jumper in the final :25.

Up Next: West Virginia State travels to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Tuesday, Nov. 25 for a 3 p.m. nonconference matchup.