MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Ayana Emmanuel logged a team-high 21 points to power Alabama State to a 76-65 victory over Mississippi Valley to open conference play on Monday, January 2, 2023, inside the Acadome. 

THE BASICS 
Score: Alabama State - 76  | Mississippi Valley- 65 
Records: Hornets 4-8 | Devilettes 2-9 
Date: January 2, 2022 
Location: Montgomery, Ala. | Dunn Oliver Acadome 
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HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Samiya Steele drained a three-pointer in the opening minute to get Alabama State on the board after an MVSU layup.
• The Lady Hornets scored seven-straight points to take a commanding 10-2 lead with 7:04 left to play in the first frame.
• The Devilettes were able to put together a 7-2 run to end the first quarter down by three points.
• Cordasia Harris knocked down a pair of free throws followed by a layup from Shmya Ward to put the Lady Hornets in front 16-11 at the 8:59 mark in the second quarter. 
• MVSU knocked down a three-pointer but Ayana Emmanuel responded with a three of her own followed by an and-one layup from Cordasia Harris to put ASU's lead at 22-14 with six minutes before the intermission.
• Emmanuel drained two more threes in the second quarter to give ASU a 39-30 advantage heading into the locker room.
• Shmya Ward gave the Lady Hornets an 11-point advantage on a driving layup to open the second half.
• Both teams battled back and forth until ASU held a narrow two-point lead (47-45) with two minutes to play in the third quarter.
• Shmya Ward scored the Lady Hornets' final six points (53-47) of the quarter to put Alabama State back up by six at the end of the third. 
• Both teams traded a free throw before MVSU knocked down a three to get back within three points (54-51) less than two minutes into the final frame.
• Emmanuel and Alexyss Newman combined for five points to extend ASU's lead to 59-51 at the 8:10 mark in the fourth.
• The Devilettes cut the deficit to 61-59 with 5:39 left to play.
• Emmanuel scored a driving layup with three minutes left to give ASU a 69-63 lead.
• Cordasia Harris and Shmya Ward recorded blocks in the final two minutes to help ASU hold on and win 76-65.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Ayana Emmanuel scored a team-high 21 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the floor, 3-of-8 from three, and 6-of-8 from the foul line. Emmanuel also led in steals with three
• Shmya Ward recorded 18 points, two assists, and two rebounds.
• Jayla Crawford was ASU's top facilitator with five assists in the win. Crawford also led the way with a team-high five rebounds.
• Alabama State shot 49.2 percent from the floor, 40 percent from three, and 80 percent from the charity stripe. 
• The Lady Hornets outscored the Devilettes in the paint 42-24.

NEXT UP
The Alabama State women's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, as they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 5:30 p.m. in the Acadome.