ITTA BENA (Women's Basketball) Mississippi Valley improved on the season, with a decisive victory over the Toppers of Blue Mountain College, 66-40.
The Devilettes' Ashley Beals started scoring for the contest with an in-the-paint layup six second into the first period to give MVSU a two-point advantage. A foul sent Beals to the charity stripe at the 9:07 mark where she made both, edging Mississippi Valley up 4-0. BMC landed on the board with a layup to slice into the Devilettes lead. With several scoring bursts, the score at the conclusion of the quarter was 17-15, in favor of MVSU.
A foul on Lauren Elliot sent Jennifer Milewski to the free throw line, where she made the first and missed the second. Matavia Cox went to the line making both free throws to take the Toppers up 18-17. A layup by Nyla Smith gave Mississippi Valley the lead once more with a score of 19-18. Smith went to the line in an and one situation, made the basket, for a three-point play. An excellent run by the Devilettes made the score 28-19 going into the break.
Exiting the locker rooms, Blue Mountain struck first to shorten the MVSU lead to seven points. Alexandria Tarrant went one-of-two at the line with 8:26 remaining in the third, to score Mississippi Valley's first points of the quarter. A layup by Beals took the score to 31-21 at 7:37. With 1:40 remaining, Christina Reed nailed a layup on a pass from Elliot to score the final basket of the quarter.
Entering the fourth, the Devilettes held a 13-point advantage, therefore both teams knew that victory was in reach. Increasing their defensive presence, Mississippi Valley climbed steadily to secure their victory. Beals scored the first point for MVSU at the line, less than a minute into the quarter. A beautiful jumper by Kristy Parker placed the Devilettes firmly in the driver's seat. Indianola native, Reed pressed inside for a layup, was fouled and landed the free throw for a three-point play. Shutting the Toppers out in the opening minutes of the quarter, BMC didn't score until the 7:37 mark. Smith scored a layup to give MVSU a 21-point lead. She was fouled in the process and added the free throw for another Devilette three-point play.
With 6:12 remaining, Smith placed the ball neatly in the net on a pass from Reed. She was fouled once again, as just as the previous scoring drive, added the free-throw. MVSU continued their domination to secure the victory.
Reed finished with a double-double, with 20-points, 10-rebounds, nine steals (one away from a triple-double), two assists and two blocks. Beals tallied 14-points, eight rebounds and one steal in 16-minutes of play. Smith added nine-points, two assists and one rebound.
Mississippi Valley will host the University of Colorado on Saturday, December 17 at 3:00 p.m. in the R.W. Harrison Complex.
