Mississippi Valley State Women's Basketball (3-15, 2-5) at Jackson State (6-12, 2-5); Grambling State (8-11, 5-2)
Date(s): Saturday, February 2, 2019; Monday, February 4, 2019
Time(s): 3:00 p.m. (CT); 5:00 p.m. (CT)
Facility: Lee E. Williams Athletic & Assembly Center (Jackson, MS); Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center (Grambling, LA)
 
PROBABLE STARTERS: G LaKendra Bassett (5-5, Sr., 11.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg); G Angelica Darcus (5-7, Jr., 6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg); G Desiray Mosley (5-4, Sr., 6.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg); F Nyla Smith (6-2, Jr., 2.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg); F Makayla Bonner (6-0, Sr., 9.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg).
 
DEVILETTES OVERVIEW: The Devilettes will begin their four-game road trip at Jackson State this Saturday before traveling to Grambling State. The Devilettes are coming off two losses at home after falling 75-65 to Prairie View (8-9, 5-2) and 68-50 to Texas Southern (8-10, 4-3). This season, the Devilettes are rankled have six top-three conference rankings, including fewest fouls (358), fewest turnovers (323), and three-point field goals attempted (90) and three-point field goals made (5.0). LaKendra Bassett ranks third in the conference for assists per game (4.1) and ranks fourth in both steals (40) and steals per game (2.22). LaKendra Bassett (11.1 ppg) and Kristy Parker (10.7 ppg) are averaging double-figures for the Devilettes again this season.
 
JACKSON STATE OVERVIEW: Jackson State (6, 12, 2-5) is 4-2 at home this season with wins over Central Arkansas, Spring Hill (Alabama), Millsap, and Alcorn State (only SWAC home win). The Lady Tigers last home game was against Southern on Jan. 14 where the Lady Tigers fell 76-74, before starting their three-game road trip. Last season, the Lady Tigers were 9-9 in conference play and had a 12-20 overall record. Under the direction of first-year head coach, Tomekia Reed, Jackson State leads the SWAC in field-goal percentage (42.1), free throw attempts (406), rebound margin (2.2), scoring offense (66.8), steals (206), steals per game (11.1), and turnovers forced (23.1). Jackson State has two players who pace their offense in Marneisha Hamer (14.26 ppg) and Christina Ellis (10.75 ppg). Hamer also leads the conference in field-goal percentage (53.8) and ranks No. 41 in the nation.
 
GRAMBLING STATE OVERVIEW: Grambling (8-11, 5-2) suffered their second conference loss of the season at Jackson State, 77-74, on Jan. 26. The Lady Tigers are under the direction of third year head coach, Freddie Murray, who has an overall 46-40 record at Grambling State. Coach Murray coached the Lady Tigers to a 19-14 overall record last season with 13 conference wins and five conference losses. This season, Grambling leads the SWAC in free throw attempts (406) and second in free throws made (248). The Lady Tigers also lead the conference in personal fouls per game (19.2). Shakyla Hill leads the SWAC in assists (109), assists per game (5.7), field-goal attempts (284), field-goals made (118), final points (363), free throw attempts (171), points per game (19.1), steals and steals per game (79; 4.16).
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Delta Devils dropped a pair of conference games at home (75-65 v. Prairie View; 68-50 v. Texas Southern) that came after second half slumps. LaKendra Bassett and Desiray Mosley combined for 58 points through both games. Bassett filled the stat sheet against Texas Southern despite having a slow night (eight points, nine rebounds, and six steals). Sydnie Ward also seen more playing time as she recorded 26 minutes against Prairie View and 16 against Texas Southern.
 
UP NEXT
The Devilettes continues their four-game road trip traveling to meet the Alabama schools. MVSU will play in Huntsville on February 9 against Alabama A&M and then heads to Montgomery on February 11 at Alabama State.
 
NEWS & NOTES

• MVSU's LaKendra Bassett ranks within the top five in the conference in assists per game (4.1), steals (40), and steals per game (2.22)
• MVSU ranks second within the conference in fewest fouls (358) and third in fewest turnovers (323)
• MVSU through 18 games is averaging 76.56 points per game 46.8 rebounds per game, and 15.3 assists per game
• MVSU is shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 70.9 percent from the free throw line through 18 games
• MVSU has recorded 141 steals and 39 steals this season