Grizzlies Legend Zach Randolph Shines Light on HBCU Women's Basketball

ATLANTA — The SWAC Tournament in Atlanta witnessed a special guest in the building Monday night as former Memphis Grizzlies legend and NBA All-Star Zach Randolph pulled up to watch the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers.

Randolph's presence brought major attention to the HBCU women's basketball matchup, highlighting the continued support and interest from former NBA greats in the HBCU community. After the game, Randolph praised the level of competition he saw on the floor, reflecting the intensity and effort displayed throughout the night.

"The game was good. Good to see those girls competing at a high level. They play hard, they got some good talent on the court. I'm here for the coach at MVSU — that's my good friend. They got a win here tonight, they play tomorrow. It's some good competition," he said in a postgame interview.

The Devilettes delivered a strong performance in front of the former All-Star, closing the game with a dominant fourth quarter to secure a 63-49 victory over Prairie View A&M.

Devilettes Set the Tone Early

Mississippi Valley State came out aggressively in the first quarter, setting the tone with their physical play and strong performance. The Devilettes shot 33.3% from the field, knocked down three three-pointers, and converted six of seven free throws to jump out to a 23-13 lead after the opening period.

Prairie View Responds Before Halftime

Prairie View A&M pushed back in the second quarter, improving their defense and shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

Fourth Quarter Seals the Win

However, the game ultimately swung in the fourth quarter, as Mississippi Valley State delivered its most efficient stretch late. The Devilettes shot 33.3% from the field, hit two of three attempts from deep, and converted eight of nine free throws to pull away for the 14-point victory.

Prairie View struggled to keep pace in the final period, shooting just 20% from the field as Mississippi Valley State secured the HBCU win.

Mississippi Valley State was led by a balanced scoring attack, with Janiya Jones (14 points, 6 rebounds), Jaeda Murphy (13 points, 5 assists), and Sydnei Marshall (12 points, 6-for-6 FTs) powering the Devilettes. Nairobi Lewis also controlled the glass with 16 rebounds, 8 points, and 3 blocks.

Prairie View A&M was led by Alana Shields (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists), CJ Wilson (12 points, 4 steals), and Crystal Schultz (10 points).

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.