JACKSON, MISS. (February 2, 2018) - Senior Kristy Parker and freshman Sydnie Ward combined for 22 points off the Mississippi Valley Sate bench in an 87-56 loss at rival Jackson State on Saturday in the AAC. MVSU made 12-of-18 total free throws shooting 66 percent from the line and tied a season-best eight made three-pointers.

Parker led MVSU (3-16, 2-6) in scoring for the fifth time this season scoring 12 points making four field goals including a pair of three-pointers. Ward finished with 10 points notching her fourth double-figure scoring output of the season and freshman Ronni Williams recorded a career-high nine points against the Lady Tigers (7-12, 3-5). Senior LaKendra Bassett dished out four assists and senior Desiray Mosley grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

MVSU came out in the opening quarter firing from long range making 4-of-9 three-pointers. Williams came off the bench and drained a pair of three's bringing MVSU back from an early 5-0 deficit. Her first shot brought the Devilettes within a (9-8) one-point margin and then senior Erin Smith followed with another three that gave MVSU their first lead of the afternoon 11-9 at the 4:10 mark. Parker and Smith each made one three-pointer, but JSU held a 17-16 advantage after the first quarter.

The Lady Tigers hit their stride in the second period outscoring the Devilettes, 25-11. MVSU was held to only two made shots but found some much-needed scoring at the line converting 7-of-10 free-throws. Mosley went 4-for-6 at the line while the Lady Tigers opened a double-digit lead (31-21) at the 3:56 mark. MVSU went into halftime trailing 42-27 after shooting 25 percent (8-32) from the field, 26 percent (4-15) from three-point land and 70 percent (7-10) on free-throws.

Ward, Mosley, and Bassett were the only Devilettes to score in the third period as the Lady Tigers built a 64-34 lead heading into the fourth period. MVSU gave up 22 points while only scoring seven. In the fourth the Devilettes found their offense scoring 22 points, but it was too little too late in an 87-56 defeat. MVSU finished with a season-low 28 percent (18-64) from the field.

Marniesha Hamer led JSU with 22 points while Kaisah Kucky has 13 points with 10 assists and Christina Ellis had 12 points.

Up next for the Devilettes is a showdown with Grambling State on Monday, Feb. 4 in Ruston, La at 5:00 p.m.