ITTA BENA, Miss. | Victoria Dixon posted a career-high 21 points and
Alisha Wilson grabbed a career-best 24 rebounds as the Alabama A&M University women's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak and picked up its first road win of the season with an 83-67 victory over Mississippi Valley State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Monday night at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
Alabama A&M (6-8 overall, 1-1 SWAC) used a 26-point third quarter to pull away and secure the road victory.
Dixon paced the Bulldogs with 21 points, on 6-of-14 shooting. Wilson registered a double-double with a career-high 24 boards and 14 points, while
Amiah Simmons, who surpassed the 1,000-point plateau in the win, posted 16 points, with one steal and one rebound, and
Darian Burgin chipped in 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Sh'Diamond McKnight led Mississippi Valley State (1-14, 0-2) in scoring with a game-high 23 points, along with six steals, five assists and two boards. Aaliyah Duranham added 17 points, four rebounds and one assists.
Gallery: (1-8-2024) Alabama A&M at MVSU
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M jumped out to a 10-5 advantage, following a 3-pointer from Simmons just three minutes into the contest.
However, a layup from McKnight helped MVSU grab a 12-10 leadwith 5:46 remaining in the opening period.
AAMU regained the lead, 17-15, after a layup by Wilson with 3:01 left.
MVSU closed out the first period on a 9-2 run, capped by a layup from Ja'la Douglass, giving the Devilettes a 21-17 lead entering the second period
Mississippi Valley State continued to extend the lead, pushing the margin to 30-25 after a layup by McKnight with 6:08 left in the half.
Alabama A&M trimmed the margin 35-34 after a layup from Burgin with 1:53 left in the half.
A layup from Dixon tied the game at 37 at the break.
Alabama A&M used a 10-1 run during the first four minutes of the second half to grab a 47-41 lead following a Dixon free throw.
AAMU extended its advantage to 51-43 following a Wilson layup with 4:45 left in the third period and a pair of Dixon free throws pushed the margin to 11, giving the Bulldogs a 63-52 lead entering the final period.
Alabama A&M began the final period with five straight points, highlighted by a Dixon layup, as the Bulldogs stretched the lead to 68-52 with 9:17 left.
Mississippi Valley State never got closer than 15 points down the stretch as Alabama A&M pulled away with the victory.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from the floor and 68.8 percent (22-of-32) from the charity stripe
- AAMU pulled down 44 rebounds, 24 coming off the defensive glass
- Victoria Dixon recorded a team-high 21 points, one steal and one rebound
- Amiah Simmons tallied 16 points, one rebound, one steal and one assist
- Darian Burgin added 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals
- Alisha Wilson pulled down a career-high 24 rebounds, 14 points, three assists, two steals and two blocks
- The Bulldogs finished with 36 points in the paint, 28 bench points, 25 points off 23 MVSU turnovers, 17 second-chance points and 10 fast break points
- Mississippi Valley State went 24-of-54 shooting (44.4 percent) and 14-of-21 (66.7percent) fromthe charity stripe
- MVSU recorded 29 rebounds with 18 coming off the defensive glass
- Sh'Diamond McKnight finished with a game-high 23 points, six steals, five assists and two rebounds
- Aaliyah Duranham posted 17 points, four rebounds and one assist
- The Devilletts finished with 34 points in the paint, 28 bench points, 22 points off 23 AAMU turnovers, 20 fastbreak points and 19 second-chance points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M continues its short turnaround on Thursday at home against Alcorn State. Tip-off against the Lady Braves is set for 5 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center and will be streamed on Bulldogs All-Access.
For Complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics)
