Mississippi Valley State Women's Basketball (4-16, 3-6) vs. Alabama A&M (9-11, 4-5); Alabama State (7-13, 6-3)
Date(s): Saturday, Feb. 09, 2019; Monday, Feb. 11, 2019
Time(s): 2:00 p.m. (CT); 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Facility: T.M. Elmore Gym (Huntsville, AL); Dunn-Oliver Acadome (Birmingham, AL)
 
PROBABLE STARTERS: G LaKendra Bassett (5-5, Sr., 11.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg); G Angelica Darcus (5-7, Jr., 6.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg); G Desiray Mosley (5-4, Sr., 6.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg); G Erin Smith (5-9, Jr., 5.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg); F Nyla Smith (6-2, Jr., 2.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg).
 
DEVILETTES OVERVIEW: The Devilettes will begin the second half of conference play in Alabama as they travel to face Alabama A&M and Alabama State. The Devilettes are coming off two huge games to start their four-game road trip. First, the Devilettes fell 87-56 at rival Jackson State before bouncing back with a 54-52 upset over Grambling State. The Devilettes rank nationally No. 37 in turnovers forced (37) while individually LaKendra Bassett ranks fifth in triple-doubles (1), 21^st in steals per game (2.83), and 28^th in steals (85). This season, the Devilettes have five top-three conference rankings, including fewest fouls (386), fewest turnovers (339), turnovers per game (17.8), three-point field goals made (98), and three-point field goals per game (5.2). Bassett ranks in the top five within the conference in assist-turnover ratio (1.24), assists per game (4.1), steals (43), and steals per game (2.26). Two Devilettes average double-figure scoring; Bassett (11.0 ppg) and Kristy Parker (10.5 ppg).
 
ALABAMA A&M OVERVIEW: Alabama A&M (9-11, 4-5) is on a two-game losing streak after a road trip to Texas. Alabama A&M fell to Prairie View 77-65 on February 2 before falling to Texas Southern in a 53-45 loss Monday, which knocked them out of the top five conference standings. Last season under the direction of second-year coach Margaret Richards, the Lady Bulldogs finished 6-12 in the conference while 11-18 on the season. Richards comes into the Alabama A&M program after a stint at Clemson as an assistant coach during the 2015-16 season and Western Kentucky from 2012-15. In her third year, Alabama A&M leads the conference this season in assist-turnover ratio (0.79), fewest turnovers (285), rebounds per game (40.84), and turnovers per game (15.0). Sophomore Nigeria Jones who paces the team's offensive efforts at 10 points per game ranks second in assists-turnover ratio (1.41), sixth in assists per game (3.8), and eight in steals per game (1.79) within the conference.
 
ALABAMA STATE OVERVIEW: Alabama State (7-13, 6-3) has just three conference losses, falling to Grambling (80-72), Mississippi Valley (64-62) and just recently to Prairie View (71-59). The loss to Prairie View snapped Alabama State's four-game win streak. The Lady Hornets' head coach, Freda Freeman-Jackson is in her 20^th season, and in her time at Alabama State, she has accumulated a 297-297 overall record. Last year, Freeman-Jackson coached the Lady Hornets to a third-place conference finish with a 12-6 SWAC record and a semifinals appearance. ASU currently leads the SWAC in free throws made (287); however, they rank second in field-goal percentage (38.2), free throw attempts (430), and free throw percentage (66.7). Ayana Emmanuel (13.6 ppg), Jayla Crawford (12.1 ppg), and Shmya Ward (10.2 ppg) lead the Lady Hornets offense while Shmya Ward carries the rebounding efforts with 7.5 rpg.
 
LAST TIME OUT: After a devastating loss against Jackson State on Saturday, MVSU bounced back with a huge win Monday night at Grambling. In a thriller, the Devilettes came out on top, 54-51. The Devilettes saw four player record double-figures in the win, Desiray Mosley's 14 points and seven rebounds led the way. LaKendra Bassett (11), Angelica Darcus (10), and Erin Smith (10) also registered double-figures against the Lady Tigers. A huge third quarter where the Devilettes outscored the Lady Tigers 19-7 ultimately sealed the win for the Devilettes. Although both games were crucial, the win over Grambling State was a much-needed momentum shift as the Devilettes continue on the road.
 
UP NEXT
MVSU returns home for a pair of games after playing their last four contest on the road. Alcorn State is up next on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 2:00 p.m.
 
NEWS & NOTES
·         MVSU leads the conference in game attendance with a home total of 6,582 attendees and an average of 1,645 home attendees
·         MVSU has shot 36.4% from the field, 28% from beyond the arc, and 60.1% from the free throw line through 20 games this season.
·         MVSU on the season has pulled in an average of 32.5 rebounds, dished out 10.6 assists, and accumulated 8.4 steals and 2.2 blocks.
·         Ranks 3^rd in 3-pointers made (98), 3-pointers per game (5.2), and field goals made (96, 5.1 pg)