GRAMBLING, La. | Shakyla Hill finished with a double-double as the Grambling State University women's basketball team won its third straight game with a 64-55 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Monday night at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
Grambling State (15-12 overall, 12-4 SWAC) led 23-9 after one quarter and 34-16 at the break. Mississippi Valley State (2-27, 2-15) cut the deficit to 44-30 at the end of three periods and closed the gap to seven points, but never got any closer.
 
Hill paced Grambling State with 21 points and 10 boards, along with six assists and three steals. Jazmin Boyd registered 13 points, seven boards, two assists and one steal, while Monisha Neal chipped in with 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
 
LaKendra Bassett led the Devilettes with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Kenya Arnold recorded 12 points and eight boards, while Makayla Bonner registered four rebounds and a pair of blocks.
 
Turning Point
Grambling State raced out to a 17-4 lead after a Neal jumper with 4:51 left in the opening quarter as the Lady Tigers built a commanding 23-9 advantage.
 
Mississippi Valley State closed the gap to 25-15 after a bucket by Stormy Green with five minutes remaining in the first half, but Grambling State closed out the second quarter on a 9-1 run to take a 34-16 lead into the break.
 
Grambling State kept its foot on the gas pedal in the third period, as Mississippi Valley State closed the margin to 38-26 after two free throws by Desiray Mosley, but the Lady Tigers extended the lead to 44-28 with 1:07 left in the quarter and took a comfortable 44-30 lead into the final period.
 
The Devilettes cut the double-digit deficit to 50-43 after a free throw by Mosley with 4:38 left, but Mississippi Valley State could not get any closer.
 
Inside the Numbers
* Grambling State was 24-of-63 (38.1 percent) shooting and 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the charity stripe.
* Mississippi Valley shot 21-of-57 (36.8 percent) from the floor and 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from the free-throw line.
* The Lady Tigers registered 45 rebounds, with 27 off the defensive glass.
* The Devilettes recorded 33 rebounds, including 24 on the defensive end.
* Grambling State finished with 34 points in the paint, 6 bench points, 15 second-chance points and 18 points off turnovers.
* Mississippi Valley captured 28 points in the paint, 15 bench points, eight second-chance points and 14 points off turnovers.
 
News and Notes
* Grambling State won its 10th home game of the season, the most in the program in over 10 years.
* The Lady Tigers completed a season sweep of Mississippi Valley State.
* Grambling State will host a SWAC Tournament Quarterfinal game on Tuesday, March 6 with a 6:30 p.m. tip-off at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
* Lady Tigers head coach Freddie Murray is 13-1 in his two years in the month of February.
* Grambling State Department of Athletics honored its Faculty and Staff, along with the AD Honor Roll, during halftime.
 
Up Next
Grambling State will conclude the regular season with a trip to Alabama as the Lady Tigers visit Alabama A&M on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
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