ITTA BENA, Miss. (February 16, 2019) – Mississippi Valley State women's basketball dropped a thriller at home in overtime to Alcorn State, 81-80. The Devilettes led by 15 in the third quarter after holding a 29-19 lead at the half. Junior Erin Smith recorded a season-high 20 points hitting a season-best six made three-pointers. In a game of runs, it was the last four minutes of regulation that sealed the Devilette's fate.

The fourth quarter was an intense putting the crowd up on their feet. The Devilettes (4-19, 3-9 SWAC) clung to a six-point lead after senior LaKendra Bassett made a pair of free throws with 4:52 left putting the Devilettes up, 54-48. Bassett made another layup with two minutes later extending the MVSU lead to six (60-54). With under two minutes left in the contest, Alcorn's DeAsia Brown tied the game at 60 after a Lady Braves 6-0 run. Freshman Ronni Williams converted a pair of free throws pushing the Devilettes to a 62-60 with 1:25 on the clock and then Alcorn's Jada Hargrove's jumper tied the game up at 62 with just over a minute left. Neither team made a basket in the final minute and the game went into overtime.

The Lady Braves (4-20, 3-9 SWAC) was the first to score in overtime after Brown drained two at the line followed by back-to-back three-pointers allowed Alcorn to take their biggest lead of the contest, 71-66. The Devilettes spent the remainder of overtime fighting back from a deficit. The Lady Braves made 8-of-13 free throws in the extra session and held MVSU to no attempts. Smith scored eight points in overtime hitting a pair of three-pointers but the Devilettes were unable to stop the Lady Braves falling 81-80.

In the loss, MVSU had four players in double-figure scoring led by Smith's 20 points. Senior Desiray Mosely had 14 points, and senior Kristy Parker and Bassett both added 10 points apiece. Bassett recorded her second double-double of the season posting 10 assists. MVSU's 80 points were the second most of the season along with their 30 made field goals while their 75 field goal attempts is a season high.

Brown scored a game-high 27 points for the Lady Braves while Hargrove scored 16 and Toddriana Isler had 13 points.

Up next for MVSU is a SWAC matchup against the Lady Jaguars of Southern on Monday, Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m.