Clemisha Prackett banked in an offensive rebound with 24 seconds remaining in overtime to help lift Mississippi Valley State to a 68-65 win over Florida A&M to advance out of the first round of the 2025 SWAC Basketball tournament at the Gateway Arena in College Park, GA.
The Devilettes’ Jaylia Reed hit a layup with 38 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. Reed picked up the slack when her backcourt teammate D’Yanna Maxey fouled out of the game with a minute remaining.
Florida A&M was led by the double-digit scoring of Saige Glover, Sabou Gueye, and Cheyenne McEvans. Glover led all scorers and rebounders with 22 points and 16 boards. Gueye also posted a double-double (16 pts, 12 rebounds).
Valley led early taking a 10-6 lead halfway through the first quarter. Gueye gave the Lady Rattlers their first lead of the game with the first basket inside the four minute mark.
The Devilettes turned the corner in the third quarter battling back from a seven-point deficit to finish the quarter trailing 42-44.
Reed tied the game 44-44 with a layup. She knocked down a three four minutes later to give the Devilettes a 47-46 lead.
FAMU pushed the lead out by five on a three pointer by Gueye. Maxey, the junior from nearby Banneker High School, responded to Gueye’s triple with one of her own before fouling out of the game.
With Maxey on the bench, FAMU set up to stretch the lead and make it a two possession game. Glover got the look she wanted on the baseline. Her shot clanged off the rim into the hands of Prackett who turned and fired a pass to a streaking Reed. The senior guard made the basket to tie the score.
“We’ve been in these situations all season,” said Prackett. “This was just a piece of cake.”