GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team could not overcome 31 turnovers and a late technical as the Lady Tigers fell, 54-52, on Monday night to Mississippi Valley State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
Grambling State (9-12 overall, 6-3 SWAC) entered the day in a four-way tie for first in the SWAC with Southern, Prairie View A&M and Alabama State. However, the Lady Tigers turned the ball over 31 times, which resulted in 21 points for Mississippi Valley State.
 
Shakyla Hill, who was named the BOXTOROW National Player of the Week and the College Sports Madness SWAC Player of the Week on Monday, paced Grambling State with 20 points on 7-of-21 shooting. She added nine rebounds, seven steals and five assists. Camryn London came off the bench to provide 13 points, on 5-of-8 shooting and three 3-pointers.
 
Desiray Mosely led Mississippi Valley State (4-16, 3-6) with 14 points, seven of them coming at the free-throw line, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. LaKendra Bassett tallied 11 points, five steals and three assists, while Angelica Darcus and Erin Smith each added 10 points.
 
Turning Point
Grambling State and Mississippi Valley State entered the final period tied at 40 and the Devilettes began the fourth with buckets by Makayla Bonner and Erin Smith to grab a 44-40 advantage with 8:56 remaining.
 
MVSU stretched the lead to 49-43 after a LaKendra Bassett 3-pointer with 6:53 left, but Grambling State slowly chipped away at the deficit and closed the gap to 51-49 after a Mylashia Yancey 3-pointer with 1:14 left.
 
A turnover by Desiray Mosley and a three-point play by Shakyla Hill gave the Lady Tigers a 52-51 lead.
 
On the ensuing offensive possession for Mississippi Valley State, Hill forced a turnover, then was whistled for a technical. Mosely sank two at the free-throw line to give the Devilettes at 53-52 lead with seven seconds left.
 
Grambling State had one final chance to tie or win the game, but London's 3-point attempt was blocked by Kristy Parker to give MVSU the victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State was 20-of-52 (38.5 percent) shooting and 7-of-16 (5743.8 percent) from the charity stripe
> Mississippi Valley State shot (32.1 percent) (17-of-563 from the field and 62.4 percent (15-of-24) from the free-throw line
> The Lady Tigers registered 41 rebounds, including 30 on the defensive glass
> The Devilettes pulled down 35 rebounds, with 27 coming on the defensive end
> Grambling State finished 25 points off 26 Devilette turnovers, 24 points in the paint, 17 bench points, six fastbreak points and five second-chance points
> MVSU tallied 23 points in the paint, 21 points off 31 Lady Tiger turnovers, nine bench points, seven fastbreak points and four second-chance points
 
News & Notes
> Grambling State swept the season series last year
> Shakyla Hill was named the BOXTOROW National Player of the Week and the College Sports Madness SWAC Player of the Week on Monday
> Shakyla Hill has posted double figures in scoring in 20 of-21 games this season
> Shakyla Hill has scored 15 or more points in 67 times in her collegiate career
> Shakyla Hill had seven  steals and is now 26 away from the school and SWAC all-time record
 
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action with a pair of road games as the Lady Tigers visit Southern on Saturday and conclude the short two-game road swing at Alcorn State on Feb. 11. Grambling State is looking for the season split with the Jaguars, while seeking a sweep of the Lady Braves.
 
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