MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Montevallo women's basketball is set for a two-game road trip in the magnolia state this weekend with a matchup against the Lady Choctaws of Mississippi College and the Lady Statesmen of Delta State.
 
The Falcons will first face Mississippi College on Friday, Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m. before heading to Cleveland, Miss. to take on Delta State at 2 p.m. on Dec. 10.  
 
Montevallo enters the weekend seeking its first 5-1 start in league competition since the 2019-20 season when the Falcons finished 12-8 in GSC play.
 
GAME NOTES
 
So Far This Season…
Montevallo boasts a 5-2 overall mark and a 3-1 record in GSC action, the best start through seven games since the 2020-21 season when the Falcons finished with a 14-7 overall record. The 2023-24 campaign began with an 88-74 loss to Embry-Riddle during the GSC-Sunshine State Crossover Classic hosted by Nova Southeastern. The Falcons rebounded with a 77-69 win over host Nova Southeastern on Nov. 11 before returning home for a 27-point win over Birmingham-Southern in the 2023 home opener. Head Coach Olivia Chapman's squad opened league play with a 78-67 win over Alabama Huntsville before heading to Livingston, Ala. for a 70-56 win over West Alabama. Montevallo grabbed its first home, conference victory with a 66-57 comeback win over Shorter on Dec. 1. In its most recent outing, Montevallo fell to Lee, 80-76, to snap a five-game win streak.
 
The Falcons rank fourth in the GSC in both points per game (72.6) and points allowed per game (65.3) while rankings third in the league with 8.3 threes per game. Montevallo has also cashed in on opportunities from the free throw line with a 77.4 shooting clip (second).
 
Scouting Mississippi College: WATCH | LIVE STATS
Montevallo heads to Clinton, Miss. for a matchup with the GSC's lowest scoring offense in Mississippi College at 51.6 points per game. MC holds a 2-5 overall mark and a 1-3 record in GSC action heading into its matchup with the Falcons. The Lady Choctaws opened the regular season with a 58-54 win over Lane on Nov. 10 before going on a two-game skid to close the non-conference schedule. MC fell to No. 7 Union, 84-53, on Nov. 25 before snapping a three-game losing streak with a two-point win over Christian Brothers on Nov. 27. In the last weekend, MC went 0-2 with losses to West Florida and Valdosta State.
 
MC's offense is led by a 9.6 point per game mark from sophomore guard Brett Gardner with Karly Ivy scoring 9.0 points per contest. On the glass, Amelia Bell and Mya Bobo lead the Lady Choctaws' rebounding with a 4.6 per game mark and a 4.4 mark, respectively.
 
Series History Against Mississippi College:
Since 1992, the Falcons and the Lady Choctaws have met on the hardwood 10 times with the Falcons holding a 5-5 record against MC. Since rejoining the GSC in the 2017-18 season, Montevallo has gone 4-4 against Mississippi College after falling in two meetings during the 2017-18 season. Montevallo took consecutive victories in 2018 and 2019. The Falcons fell in both meetings back in the 2021-22 season before taking both games last season. In the most recent matchup, Montevallo walked away with a 64-58 win on Jan. 28.
 
Scouting Delta State: WATCH | LIVE STATS
The Lady Statesmen have notched a 3-5 overall record and a 1-3 mark in conference play. DSU opened the season with a 13-point win over Lemoyne-Owen followed by a 55-49 win over Lane College on Nov. 11. The Lady Statesmen fell in its highest-scoring outing of the season with a 106-98 loss to Henderson State on Nov. 15. DSU fell to Harding before opening league play with a 78-65 win over Christian Brothers on Nov. 25. A three-game losing streak for the Lady Statesmen began with a loss to No. 7 Union on Nov. 27. In this past weekend, DSU fell to Valdosta State and, in its most recent outing, West Florida.
 
Delta State ranks eighth in the GSC with a 64.1 point per game mark and 11^th among conference leaders with 72.0 points per game allowed. DSU's -7.9 scoring margin ranks 10^th in the league. Delta State boasts two athletes with a double-digit scoring average in Wakiryah Daniels (14.9), and Jayla Smith (10.0). Delta State forward Grace Watson leads the team on the glass with a 7.38 rebound per game mark.
 
Series History Against Delta State:
Historically, the Falcons have struggled against Delta State with the Lady Statesmen holding a 20-3 record in the series. Since the Falcons rejoined the league before the 2017-18 season, Montevallo is 2-8 against Delta State with the Lady Statesmen taking four-straight wins before Montevallo picked up a victory in the 2019-20 season. The Falcons' most recent win over Delta State came on Feb. 19, 2022. In the most recent matchup, Montevallo fell to DSU, 60-52, on Jan. 26, 2023.
 
Player Highlights:
Montevallo's offense has been well balanced with four Falcons scoring in double-digits. Cali Smallwood leads the team with a 13.1 points per game average while Isabel Grimes (12.6), Marisa Snodgrass (11.7) and Ramie Reid (10.6) all eclipsing the 10-point per game mark. On the glass, Smallwood has been the team's leading rebounder with 6.3 per game while Ramie Reid is close behind with a 6.0 mark per contest. Montevallo's Marisa Snodgrass ranks second among conference leaders with 3.0 steals per game while leading the league with a 3.0 assist to turnover ratio. Snodgrass also ranks third in the league with 5.1 assists per game while Reid (eighth) and Grimes (10^th) rank inside the league's top-10 in free throw shooting with 81.8 percent and 80.4 percent marks from the line, respectively.