CHICAGO, Ill. – Ixana Winters delivered a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds as the Mississippi Valley State University women's basketball team battled through a tough road contest, falling 83-62 to Chicago State on Thursday evening inside the Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center.
Despite facing a significant halftime deficit, the Delta Devils (0-2) showed resilience in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 37-36 over the final two quarters, including a 17-14 advantage in the fourth period.
Winters provided an offensive spark off the bench, shooting 6-of-15 from the field, connecting on two three-pointers and finishing a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. The junior guard also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.
Sydnei Marshall followed with 15 points, three rebounds and an assist. The preseason All-SWAC selection connected on seven free throws and continued to provide offensive leadership for Valley.
Mariah Reed-Jones added eight points and three rebounds, while
Ja'la Douglas contributed six points and two steals.
Bryana Block made her presence felt across the stat sheet, collecting six rebounds, a team-high five assists and two steals. Te'lynn Lee-Rose also pulled down six rebounds and recorded two blocked shots.
Valley opened the contest with an early spark as Reed-Jones scored the game's first basket before Douglas connected on a jumper to give the Delta Devils a 4-2 advantage. However, Chicago State answered with a series of perimeter baskets to establish a 25-15 lead after the opening quarter.
The Cougars continued their offensive momentum in the second period, building a 47-25 advantage heading into halftime.
Mississippi Valley State came out of the locker room with renewed energy, finding greater success attacking the basket. The Delta Devils shot 50 percent from the field in the third quarter, connecting on eight of their 16 attempts while scoring 20 points. Winters led the third-quarter effort with seven points, helping Valley establish a better offensive rhythm.
The Delta Devils continued to compete in the final period, limiting Chicago State to just 14 points while producing 17 of their own. Valley also put together an eight-point scoring run during the fourth quarter, demonstrating its determination to finish the contest strong.
Mississippi Valley State held advantages in several statistical categories, outrebounding Chicago State 39-37 and outscoring the Cougars 28-22 in the paint. The Delta Devils also received 29 points from their bench, compared to 27 for Chicago State.
However, the Cougars' perimeter shooting proved to be a deciding factor, as Chicago State connected on 12 three-pointers and capitalized on 25 Valley turnovers.
Keona McGee led Chicago State (1-1) with a game-high 22 points, while Kyara Champagne added 17 and Mazzy O'Brien finished with 16.
Although the final score did not favor the Delta Devils, Valley's improved second-half performance highlighted the team's ability to make adjustments and compete down the stretch as it continues its early-season road schedule.
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