ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Mississippi Valley State University women's basketball program was on the verge of overtime when a Devilettes defender was whistled for a shooting foul on a three-pointer with less than one second remaining in regulation, gifting the Golden Lions a pair of free throws which wound up the difference in a 68-66 setback on Saturday.
 
The Basics: 
 

• Score
  • Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 68
  • Mississippi Valley – 66

 

• Records
  • Mississippi Valley (4-15, 3-5 SWAC)
  • Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-12, 4-5 SWAC)

 

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

 

• Series History (Since 2010)
  • Golden Lions Lead 18-12 (40%)

 

• Winning Streak (Since 2010)
  • Golden Lions (W1) / Devilettes' Last Win: March 1, 2025 (78-48)

 
Devilettes' Top Performers:
 

• Ariel Jefferson posted her second double-double of the season and first since mid-November as she led MVSU with 18 points via 7-for-12 (58.3%) shooting while tied for the game's most rebounds at ten.

 

• Jaeda Murphy showed off skills in multiple facets, scoring 11 in addition to a contest-best six assists plus a Valley-high four steals, collecting four boards as well with three of those coming on the offensive glass.

 

• Nairobi Lewis put forth a season-high of 13 points, corralling seven rebounds and blocking a shot, making 4-of-8 (50%) from the court and 5-of-6 (83.3%) at the stripe.

 

• Ja'la Douglas set a career benchmark for steals (3), pulled in a campaign-high five rebounds, and dished out multiple dimes for the first time in 2025-26.

 
Next:
 

• The Green and White host Alcorn to open February in the middle contest of its season-long three-game homestand on Thursday night at 7 p.m. as the battle for Magnolia State supremacy gets underway.

 
Follow the Mississippi Valley State women's basketball program on Twitter (@MvsuWBB) and Instagram (@ValleyStateWBB).
 
Follow the Delta Devils / Devilettes on Facebook (Valley State Athletics), Twitter / X (@MVSUDevilSports), and Instagram (@ValleyStateAthletics).