ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Mississippi Valley State Devilettes are heading to Atlanta! In a thrilling contest at the Harrison HPER Complex, MVSU delivered a gutsy 70-68 victory over Jackson State, clinching their spot in the SWAC Tournament.

From the opening tip, MVSU played with determination, taking control early with a 19-16 first-quarter advantage. The home crowd erupted as D'Yanna Maxey led the charge, dropping a team-high 20 points, while Jaylia Reed added 13, including some clutch three-pointers. The Delta Devils dominated the paint, outscoring JSU 34-24 in close-range baskets.

Jackson State fought back in the second half, briefly taking the lead behind Leianya Massenat's hot shooting. However, MVSU's defense held strong, forcing turnovers and sealing the game at the free-throw line.

"This win is everything. We fought all season for this moment, and now we're dancing in Atlanta," said Maxey after the game.

With this victory, MVSU (7-22, 6-12 SWAC) punches its ticket to the SWAC Tournament, proving that resilience and teamwork can overcome any challenge. Next stop: Atlanta, where the Devilettes look to shock the conference and make a deep run!