KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It was a game of back and forth Saturday between Mississippi Valley State and George Mason. 

The Patriots used a strong start and a late first half push to defeat the Devilettes, 71-62, in the final game of the Plaza Lights Classic. 

Despite the loss, Valley played one of its most complete games of the season. MVSU's Christina Reed matcher her career high in points (13) and a set a career-best in rebounds with 11. The Indianola, Miss. native also contributed four assists in two steals. Meanwhile, Valley's Taylor Green had a career-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shots, including five three-pointers along with five assists. 

Ashley Beals chipped in nine points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks. 

A'Shanti Weathers, who was named to the Plaza Lights Classic All-Tournament Team, had seven points, seven rebounds and two steals in the game. 

George Mason started off the game on a 8-0 run and led 17-4 early in the game, but Valley came back strong. The Devilettes ended a 12-0 run with a Kahdejah Stevens 3-pointer at the 12:23 mark that cut the Patriots' lead to 17-16. 

Valley took its first lead of the game, 22-20, with under 11 minutes left in the first half after consecutve three-pointers by Green and Reed. Their lead swelled to eight points, 29-21, but George Mason finished the first half strong and took a 46-38 lead at intermission. 

The Devilettes were able to cut the lead to four points, 51-47, with just over 14 minutes left but that would be as close as the Devilettes would get. 

MVSU shot 34 percent while the Patriots converted 37 percent of its shots. 

The Devilettes will be back in action Wednesday at Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network Plus.