PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Even with three players out due to injury, the Mississippi Valley State women's basketball team put up a strong effort Saturday before falling at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 65-47, in the first conference game for both teams.

MVSU's Ashley Beals picked up the slack in place of Christina Reed, who leads the team in both scoring and rebounding. Beals had her fourth double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out late in the second half.

"It was a tough effort and a great game play by UAPB," said MVSU head coach Elvis Robinson. "We just hit a spot where we couldn't score the basketball. In the last few minutes we didn't play well, we had a 5-minute stretch where we didn't score. The game is about peaks and valleys and we just hit one of those valleys."

Despite playing with just eight active players, Valley (2-10, 0-1 SWAC) played a competitive game and trailed by just six points, 48-42, midway throughout the second half. But the Lady Lions (3-9, 1-0 SWAC) went on a 10-0 run over a 5-minute stretch to take a 58-42 lead with 3:51 remaining.

MVSU's Kadesha Floyd accounted for all of the Devilettes' 12 bench points, with nine coming in the first half. A'Shanti Weathers contributed nine rebounds despite shooting 1-of-13.

Another positive point Valley can take from Saturday's game was their rebounding effort. The Devilettes beat the Lady Lions 48 to 38 in the rebounding category.

"This is a young ball club, we just have to get better," said Robinson. "You can always take something good from a game but now we have to put together a good 40-minute game."

Ajia Richardon paced UAPB with 15 points while Destiny Brewton (13) and Carlisha Walker (12) combined to score 25.

MVSU will be off until Saturday, Jan. 10 when they host Alabama A&M at 2 p.m. at the Leflore County Civic Center. Admission will be $15 for adults and $10 for youth ages 5-17.