ETTRICK, VA. –The Cheyney University women's basketball team fought valiantly, but could not overcome a slow start at undefeated Virginia State University, in a non-conference 77-53 road loss, Saturday afternoon inside the VSU Multipurpose Center.

Freshman K'viah-Cynae Breazeale connected on all three of her of three-point shots to lead the Lady Wolves (1-5) with a career-high nine points and grabbed a career-high four rebounds, Marlon Herring narrowly missed her second straight double-double, with a game-high 11 rebounds and eight points and added three steals.

Alexis Smith scored 25 points, with eight assists and six steals to pace the Trojans (5-0), who jumped out to a 25-7 lead after the first ten minutes.

The lead was built to 34-11, when Cheyney responded with an 11-point run to close out the second quarter.

Breazeale started the run with an offensive rebound and an assist on a Drazana Vulic basket, TaKayla Ellis converted a layup and a free-throw, then found Breazeale for a three-pointer,  after a steal from Herring, Ellis added another assist as Gianni Hill connected from beyond the arc, to make it a 34-22 contest after 20 minutes.

Senior Yasmine Dorrielan cut the deficit to 10-points to start the third quarter, but Virginia State scored the next seven points to push the lead back to 17, 41-24 with 6:36 to play in the third.

Breazeale made a 13-point game with a three-pointer, then the Trojans put the game away with the final eight-points of the quarter and led 53-32 heading to the fourth.
Ellis, who finished with a team-high five assists, scored eight points with two steals, Freshman Octavia Hawkins scored a career-high seven points, Dorrilean, who is second in the PSAC with 12 blocks (2.0 bpg) added two blocks, five points and four rebounds.

Next up is the Battle of the First at Lincoln University on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. inside Manuel Rivera gymnasium.

Cheyney will have its home opener on Saturday, Dec. 2 against Pitt. Johnstown and on Sunday Indiana, Pa. will pay a visit to Cope Hall. Tip-off for the PSAC Crossover contests are scheduled for 1:00 p.m.