Women's Basketball | 1/4/2022 6:14:00 PM

 
ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Mississippi Valley State University women's basketball program returns from COVID-19 protocols, in search of continuing its momentum it built after a 73-72 overtime win over ULM to conclude non-conference action on December 20.

What You Need to Know 
 

• Time and Date: Wednesday, January 5 (5:30 p.m.)

 

• Live Stats: N/A

 

• Video: https://youtu.be/I6thWvQpXeE

 

• Audio: http://www.gwoodlive.com/ (Lee Hall & Joshua Davis)

 

• Tickets: https://www.impacttickets.com/

 

• Records: Mississippi Valley State (1-8, 0-1 SWAC) | Alabama A&M (3-8, 1-0 SWAC)

 

• Location: Itta Bena, Mississippi – R.W. Harrison HPER Complex

 

• Series History: N/A

 

• Last Meeting: February 6, 2021| Alabama A&M 81, Mississippi Valley State 43 | Huntsville, Alabama (T.M. Elmore Gymnasium)

 

• Winning Streak: Alabama A&M (W8) | Mississippi Valley State's Last Win: February 4, 2017 (58-52)

 
Mississippi Valley State Overview
 
Head Coach Ashley Walker-Johnson's calling card in 2021-22 has been a turnover forcing menace, causing the 17th-highest turnover rate in the country at 22.44 for a turnover margin of 1.33 (second in SWAC) to go along with jacking up a ton of three-pointers (7.0 made per game, second in league).

Mikayla Etienne has embodied the tactic, averaging two steals and 1.89 triples a night to slot fourth and second, respectively, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Ronni Williams has been the sparkplug and vocal leader of the group, providing a steady veteran leadership on top of a healthy dose of assists (3.6) and steals (2.11) as she's remained on the court for a SWAC-most 36.93 minutes a night.
 
Scouting The Opponent: Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs

A&M currently strolls into The Delta with its first winning streak of the year after escaping Florida Atlantic with a win (65-63) before handing Arkansas-Pine Bluff a ten-point setback on Monday (58-48).

The women from the Rocket City will have a significant height advantage over the Devilettes as six Lady Bulldogs exceed six-feet tall, which has contributed to nearly five blocks a night (top-35 in NCAA).

One of those large ladies is Preseason All-SWAC First Team selection, Dariauna Lewis. The senior forward from Omaha, Nebraska has been terrorizing the league for years and she is at it once again, posting a top-25 ranking in blocks a night (2.18) and a top-30 mark for rebounds per contest (10.0) to average a double-double as the second-best shooter on the team (11.3 points).

If it's not rejecting shots or pulling down boards, Nigeria Jones has been the answer for Coach Margaret Richards. Jones is the squad's top scorer at 11.4 points, top helper at 31 assists, and best on-ball defender at 19 steals.

Follow the Delta Devils and Delta Devilettes on Facebook (Mississippi Valley State Athletics), Twitter (@MVSUDevilSports) and Instagram (@MVSUDevilSports).