HOUSTON – The Mississippi Valley State Devilettes fell to the Lady Tigers of Texas Southern 55-39 in the first game of their two game Texas conference matchups.

In the opening period, the momentum was in favor of Texas Southern, as they took a 16-9 lead entering the second. TSU opened scoring with a three-point basket. LaKendra Basset responded with an in the paint jumper at 9:12 to cut the Lady Tiger lead to one. A seven-point run by TSU set the stage for the first. Down 10-2, MVSU's Kristy Parker nailed a long three-pointer to cut the lead in half, 10-5.

In the second, the Devilettes doubled down on defense, holding Texas Southern to eight points, while scoring six. The period got off to a slow start as the first point was scored by Kenya Arnold at the free-throw line at 9:20. A three by the Lady Tigers carried them up by nine points with 8:50 remaining in the half.  At 8:10, Parker went 1-2 at the line to decrease the deficit to eight. With 7:20 remaining on the board, Makala Bonner entered the paint, refused to be denied and landed a layup. With 28 ticks remaining, Arnold scored a layup to end the first half, 24-15 in favor of Texas Southern.

Mississippi Valley blazed throughout the third, taking the quarter 15-13. Reminisce of the first, the Lady Tigers started the third with a three-point basket. MVSU's Parker scored first for the Devilettes at 7:54. Bassett and Bonner scored back-to-back to decrease the Texas Southern lead to eight. Bassett scored again in the fifth minute to carry the Devilettes to within five points of the Lady Tigers. Parker blazed down the court, and clinched a jumper with 29 seconds remaining in the quarter to end the period 37-30.

Down by seven entering the final 10-minutes, Mississippi Valley relinquished 18-points, while scoring nine. After a jumper by TSU, Bassett scored a three-pointer on a pass from Parker. A six-point run by Texas Southern increased the lead to 12-points for the Lady Tigers. The Devilettes continue to apply pressure in the remaining minutes, but came up short.

Parker paced Mississippi Valley with 16-points, five rebounds, three steals and one assist, while Bassett tallied 14-points, two assists, two blocks and two assists. Desiray Mosley led the team with six rebounds.

The next stop for the Devilettes will be the Lady Panthers of Prairie View A & M on Monday, January 22, 2018. Game time is set for 5:30 pm.