Mississippi Valley State Women's Basketball (3-13, 2-1) vs. Prairie View (6-9, 3-2); Texas Southern (6-10, 2-3)
Date(s): Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019; Monday, Jan. 28, 2019
Time(s): 3:00 p.m. (CT); 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Facility: R.W. Harrison HPER Complex (Itta Bena, MS)

PROBABLE STARTERS: G LaKendra Bassett (5-5, Sr., 10.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg); G Angelica Darcus (5-7, Jr., 6.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg); G Desiray Mosley (5-4, Sr., 4.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg); F Nyla Smith (6-2, Jr., 2.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg); F Makayla Bonner (6-0, Sr., 9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

DEVILETTES OVERVIEW: The Devilettes will host Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Jan. 26 in the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex before playing host to Texas Southern on Monday, Jan. 28. MVSU is coming off a two-game road trip that resulted in tight losses, yet the Devilettes had a strong showing each game. The Devilettes rank No. 83 in the nation in turnovers forced (37) and have six top-three conference rankings, including three pointers made (81), three pointers per game (5.1), and fewest turnovers (290). LaKendra Bassett ranks fourth in the conference in assists per game (4.1) and fifth in steals per game (2.06). The Devilettes have two players averaging double-figures, LaKendra Bassett (11.5 ppg) and Kristy Parker (11.0 ppg). Sydnie Ward and Desiray Mosley are coming off huge nights after the Monday night road game at Southern with Ward posting a season high 18 points and Mosley recording her third double-digit outing of the season.

PRAIRIE VIEW OVERVIEW: Prairie View (6-9, 3-2) is 2-6 on the road this season with victories over Southern (55-54) and Alcorn State (82-61). In their last game, the Lady Panthers fell 64-63 against Grambling State at home on January 21. Last season, the Lady Panthers were 12-6 in conference play and had a 15-16 overall record. Sandy Pugh comes into the PV program with a 198-224 career record after 18 seasons with Southern. Prairie View is the conference leader in assists (231), blocked shots (76), blocked shots per game (5.1), field-goal percentage defense (35.3), free-throw percentage (74.2) and turnovers forced (22.3). Shala Dobbins leads the conference in free-throw percentage (82.2), ranks second in both free throw attempts (90) and free throws made (74), while also leading the team in scoring (13 ppg). Artavia Ford and Jhrah Cobb rank second and third in blocked shots per game (1.67 and 1.40).

TEXAS SOUTHERN OVERVIEW: Texas Southern (6-10, 3-2) is 3-7 on the road with two non-conference wins over Savannah State (65-41) and UT Rio Grande Valley (69-55). Their last road win was on Jan. 12 over Prairie View (52-44). The Lady Tigers are under the direction of fifth year head coach, Johnetta Hayes-Perry, who has an overall 100-58 record at Texas Southern. Coach Hayes-Perry coached the Lady Tigers to a 19-13 overall record last season. This season, Texas Southern leads the SWAC in three pointer percentage (32.8), while Niya Mitchell leads the conference in field-goal percentage (55.8), offensive rebounds per game (4), rebounds (142), and rebounds per game (8.9). Marquia Turner also leads the SWAC across the board in three pointers made (38), three pointers per game (2.38), and three pointer percentage (42.2).
 

LAST TIME OUT:The Devilettes outscored the Lady Jaguars of Southern through three quarters, but then Southern used their home court advantage to power them in the closing moments, 74-67. Sydnie Ward came off the MVSU bench and caught fire in the third period scoring 14 of her season-high 18 points. In 29 minutes of action, Ward made 6-of-13 (46-percent) field goals and a perfect 4-for-4 on free-throws. Desiray Mosley recorded her first double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) of the season and led MVSU in rebounds. Kristy Parker and LaKendra Bassett rounded out the Devilettes double-figure scoring adding 12 and 10 points, respectively. Overall, the Devilettes shot 20-for-47 from the field (32.6 percent), 7-for-21 from beyond the arc (33.3 percent), and 20-of-28 free throws (71.4 percent) while pulling in a total of 27 rebounds.
 

UP NEXT: The Devilettes will conclude the first half of conference play on the road. The Devilettes will first travel to in-state foe, Jackson State, on February 2 before heading to face Grambling State on February 4.
 
NEWS & NOTES
• MVSU leads the conference in game attendance with a total 4,684 attendees and an average of 1,561 attendees
• MVSU has shot 37.8% from the field, 28.3% from beyond the arc, and 58.4% from the free throw line through 16 games this season.
• MVSU on the season has pulled in an average of 32.5 rebounds, dished out 11.2 assists, and accumulated 7.68 steals.
• Ranks 3rd in 3-pointers made (5.1 per game)
• Ranks 5th in SWAC scoring (60.4 ppg) and FG percentage (37.8), free-throw percentage (59.5)