THE DELTA | Behind a balanced offensive attack and a strong second-quarter performance, the Mississippi Valley State University women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season with an 81-67 victory over Tougaloo College on Thursday evening inside the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
The Delta Devils (1-0), under second-year head coach
Jason James, overcame a slow start and used a 23-point second quarter to take control of the contest before holding off a late push from the Bulldogs.
Returning standout
Sydnei Marshall led Mississippi Valley State with a game-high 18 points, shooting an efficient 7-of-10 from the field while adding four rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocked shots.
Mariah Reed-Jones provided a strong offensive performance with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. Reed-Jones finished 6-of-9 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.
Ja'la Douglas rounded out the Delta Devils' double-digit scorers with 14 points, five rebounds and three steals, connecting on five of her nine field-goal attempts.
Ixana Winters made her presence felt throughout the contest, contributing eight points, eight rebounds and a team-high six assists. Newcomer
Bryana Block added five points, four assists and a steal, while Kambili Nelson provided six points off the bench.
Tougaloo came out strong in the opening period, holding Mississippi Valley State to eight points and building a 14-8 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
However, the Delta Devils responded in the second quarter, turning up their defensive pressure and finding their rhythm offensively. Valley outscored Tougaloo 23-7 during the period, including a 15-0 run that helped shift momentum in favor of the Green and White.
Douglas sparked the second-quarter surge, scoring nine points in the period as MVSU carried a 31-21 lead into halftime.
Mississippi Valley State continued its offensive production after the break, adding 21 points in the third quarter to extend its advantage to 52-37 entering the final period.
The Delta Devils built their largest lead of the contest at 17 points early in the fourth quarter. Although Tougaloo produced a 30-point final period, Valley answered with 29 points of its own to secure the 14-point victory in front of 662 fans.
As a team, Mississippi Valley State shot 49.2 percent from the field, connecting on 30-of-61 attempts, while holding Tougaloo to 39.1 percent shooting.
The Delta Devils also controlled the glass, out rebounding the Bulldogs 46-33, and finished with 36 points in the paint and 28 fast-break points.
Valley distributed 24 assists on its 30 made field goals and recorded 10 steals and eight blocked shots, showcasing a balanced effort on both ends of the floor.
The victory provides a positive start to the 2026-27 campaign as James, and the Delta Devils look to build momentum heading into their nonconference schedule.
By the Numbers
18 – Game-high points scored by
Sydnei Marshall.
17 – Points from
Mariah Reed-Jones.
14 – Points scored by
Ja'la Douglas.
24 – Team assists recorded by Mississippi Valley State.
46 – Total rebounds for the Delta Devils.
49.2% – MVSU's field-goal percentage.
28 – Fast-break points scored by Valley.
23-7 – MVSU's scoring advantage in the second quarter.
Up Next
Mississippi Valley State will hit the road for its first away contest of the 2026-27 season, traveling to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to face Marquette University on Tuesday, November 3.
The Delta Devils will look to carry the momentum from their season-opening victory into their matchup against the Golden Eagles.
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