ITTA BENA, Miss. – Mississippi Valley State delivered a commanding second-half performance to seize a 68-57 victory over Alabama State at the Harrison HPER Complex on Thursday night. The Devilettes showcased their resilience, outscoring the Hornets 37-24 in the final two quarters to secure their third SWAC win of the season.
After trailing 33-31 at halftime, MVSU surged ahead behind an electrifying third quarter, led by D'Yanna Maxey's dominant offensive display. The star guard poured in 20 points, attacking the rim relentlessly while also knocking down key shots from beyond the arc. Maxey's scoring outburst fueled a 20-10 run in the third frame, giving Valley the separation they needed.
The defensive presence of Kearra Jones and Clemisha Prackett proved pivotal, as they controlled the paint and combined for 15 rebounds while anchoring a defense that held Alabama State to just 34.5% shooting from the field.
Freshman Jaeda Murphy orchestrated the offense with five assists, pushing the tempo in transition and finding open teammates. Her backcourt partner, Jaylia Reed, chipped in with nine points and two steals, applying relentless pressure on the defensive end.
Alabama State struggled to keep up with Valley's second-half intensity, despite Kaitlyn Bryant's 15-point effort. The Hornets were unable to match MVSU's dominance on the glass, losing the rebounding battle 46-30.
With the win, Mississippi Valley improves to 4-19 overall and 3-9 in SWAC play, showing grit and determination as they look to close out the season strong. The Devilettes will return to action this weekend, aiming to build momentum as they continue their SWAC campaign.
Key Stats:
- D'Yanna Maxey: 20 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST
- Clemisha Prackett: 10 PTS, 8 REB, 1 BLK
- Jaylia Reed: 7 PTS, 5 AST, 2 REB
- Mississippi Valley Total Rebounds: 46 (17 Offensive)
- MVSU Second-Half Points: 37
- Alabama State Turnovers: 12
The home crowd of 985 fans erupted as the final buzzer sounded, celebrating a much-needed home victory for the Delta Devils. MVSU will look to keep their momentum rolling as they prepare for their next conference showdown.
