PINE BLUFF, Ark. (January 5, 2019) – Mississippi Valley State women's basketball opened Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a 62-56 road win at Arkansas Pine Bluff on Saturday in the H.O. Clemmons Arena. Three Devillettes reached double-figure scoring led by senior Makayla Bonner's season-high 18 points.

MVSU improves to 2-10 overall and 1-0 in the SWAC while UAPB drops to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Bonner made five of nine shots from the field and went eight for 12 on free throws for her eighth double-digit scoring performance of the season. LaKendra Bassett followed with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals while Kristy Parker scored 12 points and led the team in rebounding with nine.

MVSU dominated the interior converting on 22 of 34 free-throws compared to 14 of 21 attempts by UAPB. The Lady Lions struggled offensively due to the stifling defense from the Devillettes finishing the afternoon shooting 28-percent (20-71) from the field.

MVSU led from start to finish in their conference opener and built a double-digit advantage after a pair of free-throws by Bassett at the 8:47 mark of the second period. The Devillettes carried a 37-27 lead into halftime as Bassett completed a three-point play in the final moments. UAPB fought back in the third quarter and trimmed the MVSU advantage to three (43-40), but the scoring duo of Bassett and Parker helped the Devillettes close the period on a 12-4 run. With a 55-44 lead heading into the fourth period the Devillettes were able to hold on down the stretch for a six-point road victory, 62-56.

Aiya El Hassan (11) and Kyeonia Harris (10) combined for 21 points to lead UAPB's scoring.

Up next for the Devillettes is their conference home opener against Alabama A&M on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m.