Date(s): Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019; Monday, Jan. 21, 2019
Time(s): 3:00 p.m. (CT); 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Facility(s): Davey L. Whitney Complex (Lorman, MS); F.G. Clark Activity Center (Baton Rouge, LA)
 

PROBABLE STARTERS: G LaKendra Bassett (5-5, Sr., 11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg); G Desiray Msoley (5-4, Sr., 3.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg); G Angelica Darcus (5-7, Jr., 6.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg); F. Makayla Bonner (6-2, Sr., 10.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg); F Nyla Smith (6-2, Jr., 3.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg).

DEVILETTES OVERVIEW: Mississippi Valley State began conference play with a win (62-56) at the Lady Golden Lions of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Jan. 5. Then the Devilettes played host to the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M on Jan. 12 and loss (80-60) before picking up a thrilling win (64-62) against the Lady Hornets of Alabama State on Jan. 14. The Devilettes are 2-1 in conference play heading into road games at Alcorn State on Saturday, Jan. 19 and then to Southern on Monday, Jan.21. In her second season, head coach Ashley Walker-Johnson returns seven players from last season with the addition of a pair of true freshmen (Ronni Williams & Sydnie Ward) and a pair of transfers (Erin Smith & Angelica Darcus). The senior duo of Kristy Parker (11.6) and LaKendra Bassett (11.0) continue to lead the Devilettes in scoring this season while Bassett also leads the team in rebounds with 6.0 and assists with 4.0 per game. Bassett ranks No. 3 in SWAC in minutes played at 33.9 minutes per game, No. 4 in assists at 4.1, No. 8 in SWAC scoring with 11.7, and No. 9 in rebounding at 5.6. 

ALCORN STATE OVERVIEW: Alcorn State (2-14, 1-3) is on a three-game losing streak headed into Saturday's matchup including a tight loss (61-56) to Shakayla Hill and Grambling State on Jan. 14. The Lady Braves are under the direction of fourth-year head coach, Courtney Pruitt, who has a 34-72 overall record and 26-32 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) record. Last season, Alcorn went 8-10 in conference play and returns just two players from that squad in senior Deasia Brown (16.8 ppg) and junior Jada Hargrove (11.3 ppg). Brown ranks tenth in SWAC scoring pacing their offense. The Lady Braves average 22.5 turnovers per game and force on average 18.3, ranking ninth in turnover margin. In addition, Alcorn has three players who rank in the top-10 in SWAC rebounding: Toddriana Isler at fourth (6.8 rpg), Diamond Hall at sixth (6.6 rpg), and Charisma Walker at eighth (6.5 rpg).

SERIES AGAINST LADY BRAVES: Head coach Walker-Johnson met the Lady Braves twice in her tenure with the Devilettes. In both meetings last season, the games were close and went down to the wire. In their first meeting, MVSU fell 76-70 at home but won on the road at Alcorn, 62-61. Kristy Parker leads the Devilettes with 21 points on 72.7 percent shooting and seven rebounds. LaKendra Bassett was just shy of a triple-double posting an incredible stat line of 14 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds.

SOUTHERN OVERVIEW: Southern (6-9, 3-1) are on a three-game win streak in after suffering an early defeat to Prairie View 55-54 on Jan. 5. Then, Southern escaped Texas Southern at home 63-61 and went on to secure big wins on the road against both Grambling State (86-81) and Jackson State (76-74. Their wins in conference play came by an average of just three points. The Lady Jags' offense is ranked just above the Devilettes at No. 4 in the conference yet both teams average 59.7 points per game. Southern ranks third in both free throw percentage (61.4%) and rebounding defense per game (37.9). Danayea Charles ranks third in SWAC in assists per game (4.4) and leads Southern in assist with a total of 66 this season. Other team leaders include Skylar O'Bear who leads the team in points per game (10.47) and Alyric Scott's team-high 4.80 rebounds per game.
 

SERIES AGAINST LADY JAGUARS: Coach Walker-Johnson's Devilettes were swept last season by the Lady Jags. In the Harrison HPER Complex (66-58) and then in the F.G. Clark Activity Center (66-58). MVSU has dropped 11 straight meetings with the Lady Jags. Their last win against Southern was on Feb. 11, 2013, at home 61-57.

LAST TIME OUT: The Devilettes downed Alabama State 64-62 finishing with three players scoring in double figures. Junior Erin Smith led the MVSU with 15 points coming off the bench hitting 3-of-7 three-pointers and a perfect 4-for-4 on free-throws. LaKendra Bassett and Makayla Bonner also scored in double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Bassett dished out a team-high five assists and grabbed five rebounds with three steals in the tight win. The Devilettes scored 21 points off forcing 27 Lady Hornet (3-12, 2-2) turnovers. MVSU made 16-of-25 free-throws which proved to be the difference down the stretch in a tightly contested game by both squads.

UP NEXT
The Devilettes host the pair of cats in the SWAC West beginning with the Lady Panthers of Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Jan. 26 and the Lady Tigers of Texas Southern on Monday, Jan. 28. Both games will be played at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
 
NEWS & NOTES
• MVSU is currently ranked fifth in the SWAC standings.
• In conference play, the Devilettes rank first in turnovers per game (14.7) and are second in free-throw percentage (.643). LaKendra Bassett is the leader in field goal percentage at 62.5% while Makayla Bonner ranks seventh in scoring (14.3).