HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A commanding 24-3 first quarter run set the stage for the day as Alabama A&M (6-2, 4-1 SWAC) raced past Mississippi Valley State (2-10, 0-8 SWAC) by an 81-43 score in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Saturday, February 6.
 
Senior guard Deshawna Harper (Indianapolis, Ind.) drilled six three-pointers, all in the second half, and finished with a game-high 22 points with three assists while junior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) hauled in a monster double-double of 16 points and 17 rebounds.
 
Redshirt-junior center Elexis Evans (Greensboro, Ala.) wasn't far behind with nine points and 13 caroms and freshman guard Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio) finished with 15 points, six boards, five assists and a pair of steals. Senior guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) chipped in with nine points and six rebounds to round out the top performers.
 
Following an opening bucket by the Devilettes 29 seconds in, A&M flexed their muscle over the remainder of the opening period, exploding for a devastating 24-3 run that set the tone for the game and left them with a commanding 24-5 lead heading into the second quarter. That stretch would see six different players score, including eight apiece from Lewis and Burgin.
 
Trailing 28-8 nearly four minutes into that frame, MVSU would bounce back to stave off another run like the one that comprised almost the entire first quarter. However, they would still find themselves trailing 39-17 at the break despite holding the Bulldogs to 11 of the final 20 points of the period.
 
That trend would not continue in the second half as Alabama A&M methodically expanded their lead to 31 points, 50-19, over the first five minutes of the third quarter. Over the next 4:12 it would grow to a game-high 40 points as the Bulldogs nailed four straight threes to make it 66-26 by the 45 second mark before heading to the fourth with a 39 point advantage.
 
Back-to-back baskets by MVSU to start the frame cut it to 35 points but it would be a margin they would reach just once more before falling by the final score of 81-43.
 
Zakiya Mahoney led the Devilettes with 10 points and five rebounds while Da'Sha McGloster matched her with 10 points. Ronni Williams just missed a double-double with seven points and nine boards as did Diamond Wraggs with nine points and eight caroms.
 
The Bulldogs close out their mini two game homestand on Monday, February 8 when they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at Elmore Gymnasium.