THE HILL | The Alabama A&M women's basketball team earn their first victory in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play as the Maroon and White sailed past the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes, 89-53, on Thursday evening.  

AAMU opened the match scoring 14 points straight and never looked back as the contest saw five Bulldogs in double-figures. Reigning SWAC Player of the Week Kourtney Rittenberry led the team with a career-high 21 points in 20 minutes. Alisha Wilson added 13 points and a team-high 15 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season, and third in a row. Aniya Palmer went 6-7 from the field for 12 points in addition to her six rebounds. Lauryn Pendleton and Darian Burgin both added 11 points, while Jaiyah Harris-Smith picked up six assists.

Mississippi Valley saw three Devilettes in double figures, led by D'yanna Maxey's 13 points and three assists. Serenity Echols added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Jaylia Reed contributed 10 points of her own, in addition to three steals. The Bulldogs continue to lead the overall series with the Delta Devils and move to 30-12 in competitions between the two. 


HOW IT HAPPENED  
 

The Bulldogs opened competition taking a quick 14-0 run 

MVSU scored their first points from a three-point play from Jaylia Reed  

The Devilettes, once down by 19, lessened the Bulldog margin, but AAMU rounded out the first frame ahead 24-10 

The Bulldogs outscored the Delta Devils 13-8 going into the media timeout  

Alabama A&M took its largest lead of the contest to that point at 45-21 heading into the break 

Mississippi Valley opened the second half with a pair of free throws, but AAMU quickly responded with a pair of layups to force a Devilette stoppage 

The Bulldogs ballooned their lead to 25 with five-and-a-half minutes remaining in the stanza 

MVSU scored five straight, but AAMU finished the frame ahead 62-45 

The Bulldogs outscored the visitors 27-8 in the final quarter and claimed the victory, 89-53 

GAME NOTES  

• Alabama A&M shot 44.8 percent (30-of-67) from the field and 35 percent (7-of-20) from behind the arc 
• AAMU went 22-29 (75.9 percent) from the line 
• The Bulldogs grabbed 43 total rebounds, 29 of them defensively  
• Rittenberry led the Bulldogs with a career-high 21  
• Alisha Wilson added 13 points and a team-high 15 rebounds  
• Aniya Palmer went 6-7 from the field for 12 points in addition to her six rebounds.  
• Lauryn Pendleton and Darin Burgin both added 11 points 
• The Bulldogs finished with 42 points in the paint, 27 bench points, and 35 points from 28 Devilette turnovers 
• AAMU picked up 15 steals compared to six from MVSU 
• The Delta Devilettes shot 26.3 percent (15-of-57) from the field, 82.6 percent from the line (19-of-23) and 21.1 percent (4-19) from behind the arc 
• Mississippi Valley grabbed 42 rebounds 
• D'yanna Maxey scored 13 points and three assists.  
• Serenity Echols added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds. 
• Jaylia Reed contributed 10 points and three steals   
• MVSU saw 20 points in the paint, 24 bench points and tallied 13 points from 15 Bulldog turnovers 

UP NEXT 

The Bulldogs host the UAPB Golden Lions on Saturday as game one of a men's and women double header. The Bulldogs will take the court at 2 p.m. with live streaming available via Bulldogs All-Access. The theme for Saturday afternoon is a White out.  

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