PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Women's Basketball) – The Mississippi Valley State University women's basketball team opened conference play with a 73-63 victory over the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Lions.

Before a crowd of 574, the Devilettes put on a show, demonstrating agility and true athletic abilities. Christina Reed dominated the court, with a double-double, scoring 23-points, taking her up to 971 career points. She also pulled down 12 rebounds, four steals and two assists.

UAPB held a slight 16-11 lead at the conclusion of the first, they also outpaced MVSU 20-17 in the second, taking 36-28 advantage into halftime.

The first points of the contest didn't come until the 8:46 mark of the opening quarter, when Pine Bluff's Faith Ohanta landed a layup. At 8:26, the Lady Lions increased their lead to four with a jumper by Destiny Brewton. Mississippi Valley's first points came 20-seconds later on a jumper by Lauren Elliot, with Kenya Arnold being credited with the assist. Fouled at 7:32, Arnold went to the line for two, making both to tie the game at four-all. A layup by Reed gave the Devilettes a two-point lead. At the 5:15 mark, Kenya Hailey drained a three to push MVSU up 9-4. With 3:24 remaining in the first, the score was knotted for the second time at nine and with less than a minute the third tie of the contest was achieved with both teams having 11. Free-throws and a jumper pushed UAPB up 16-11.

The second began with an in the paint layup by Ashley Beals at the 9:20 mark. A steal by Reed led to a fastbreak layup by Hailey, making the score 16-15 in favor of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Lady Lions went on a run, to drive the score to 20-15 with 7:34 remaining in the period and half. Reed framed up and all the crowd heard was swish as she knocked down a phenomenal three-pointer to close the gap to 20-18. The remaining minutes were action packed, with UAPB clinging to their lead.

This contest was truly the tale of two halves because the Devilettes torched the Lady Lions in the third and fourth quarters. MVSU dominated the competition 23-15 and 22-12 in the third and fourth.
 UAPB opened scoring in the third going up 38-28. With 8:48 the Lady Lions extended their lead to 40-28, prior to a three by Elliot closing the score to 40-31. Elliot also scored three free-throws for the Devilettes (40-34) with 7:32 remaining in the quarter. Reed drained another three with to bring the score to 40-37 (7:01). At 5:18 Reed landed both shots at the charity stripe to tie the game at 40. At the conclusion of the quarter the game was tied 51-51, it all came down to the final 10-minutes.

Elliot began scoring in the final period with 8:43 remaining in the contest. UAPB responded with a jumper of their own to tie the score at 53-all. With 6:53 left on the clock, the Lady Lions were up 57-54. Hailey went to the line, scoring both baskets to bring the Devilettes within one-point. A layup by Reed pushed MVSU up 58-57 (6:14). With a strong defensive stance and key shots, Mississippi Valley closed out the contest to move to 1-0 in SWAC play.

The Devilettes will return home to host the Lady Bulldogs of Alabama A & M University on Saturday, January 7 at 2:00 p.m.