ITTA BENA, Miss. (Women's Basketball) – The Devilettes of Mississippi Valley dropped a close contest to the Lady Hornets of Alabama State University in overtime. Despite the loss, it was a historic night for the Devilettes basketball team. Christina Reed and Ashley Beals became the seventh active duo in the nation to reach 1000 career points. Reed broke the 1000 point barrier, while Beals continued to plow full speed ahead to the 1200 point mark.
At the conclusion of the first, MVSU held a narrow 19-17 lead over ASU. Lauren Elliot started scoring with a three-point basket on a pass from Beals (9:36). Alabama State responded with a layup at 8:20 to close the gap to one-point. Midway through the quarter, Mississippi Valley went up by five with a layup by Beals (13-8). The Lady Hornets were able to tie the period with eight seconds remaining. Reed went to the line, scoring both free throws with two seconds remaining to propel the Devilettes to a two-point lead.
Elliot started the second period's scoring with a jumper to extend Mississippi Valley's lead. Alabama State responded with an in-the-paint layup to cut into the lead established by the Devilettes. Reed set the nets ablaze with a blistering three-pointer to claim a five-point advantage with 9:10 remaining in the first half. The game was knotted at 26-26 with 5:56 on the clock and again at 28-28 (5:07). Beals allowed an awesome layup to roll off her fingertips at the buzzer to push MVSU up 38-37.
The third got off to a slow start for the Devilettes, it was the 8:20 mark when Reed scored the first points for Mississippi Valley. With 7:17 on the clock Reed scored a three to for a 46-41 lead. Daniele Ewert scored a layup (4:49) to close the contest to 47-50, with Mississippi Valley maintaining their lead. At the conclusion of the third, Mississippi Valley was up 57-54.
In the fourth, both teams turned the court into a battleground. Each team was determined to be the one to come out as the victor and it showed. At the end of regulation, the game was deadlocked at 68-68. During the overtime period the tempo shifted into frenzy mode. Damya Toney nailed a three-pointer to lift the Lady Hornets up with 4:14 remaining. Reed went to the line to close the gap to one-point with 3:54 left on the clock. With 27 ticks remaining, Mississippi Valley's Alexandria Tarrant scored both free throws to bring the score to 79-73, with the Lady Hornets on top.
Reed finished with 30-points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Beals wrapped with 16-points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Elliot claimed 11-points, while Kristy Parker added seven.
Mississippi Valley will be back in action when they travel to Lorman, Mississippi, to take on Alcorn State University on Saturday, January 14 at 3:00 p.m.
