ITTA BENA, Miss. – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff got off to a hot start Saturday, but the Lady Lions couldn't sustain it against Mississippi Valley State in their season finale.
Senior guard LaKendra Bassett scored 15 points and dished out nine assists as the Devilettes took down UAPB 82-63 in Southwestern Athletic Conference women's play at the Harrison HPER Complex.
Freshman guard Sydnie Ward had 14 points and junior guard Erin Smith had nine for Mississippi Valley State (6-23, 5-13), which won its final two games of the regular season to grab the eighth and final spot in next week's conference tournament.
Junior guard Noe'll Taylor scored 16 points, senior guard Ashlee Daniel had 12 points and sophomore guard Trasity Totten tallied 11 points for UAPB (5-20, 2-16), which got off to a fast start before withering in the second half. The Lady Lions led 17-14 after the first quarter and 21-20 early in the second but allowed the Devilettes to score 13 of the final 18 points of the period and take a 33-26 lead into the locker room.
UAPB got back in it during the third quarter and was within 39-35 after a jumper from sophomore center Shania Hatter with 6:02 showing. But Mississippi Valley State reeled off 17 consecutive points, capped by Ward 13-footer, to take command. The Devilettes eventually led by 25 points in the final quarter before settling for a 19-point victory.
FAST BREAK
· Senior guard Kye Richardson had nine points and six assists while teammate Shawntayla Harris had four points, nine rebounds and one block in their final games as Lady Lions.
· Taylor matched Harris for team-high rebounding honors with nine.
· Every player that played in the game scored.
· UAPB was outscored 28-20 on points in the paint, 14-7 on second-chance points and 36-21 in bench production.
#OURTownOURTeam
