Ariel Mitchell's 27 Points Fuels Dillard Lady Bleu Devils to Third Straight Victory

LADY BLEU DEVILS ARIEL MITCHELL
5-7 FORWARD, SENIOR
HOMETOWN: ST. JAMES, LA

NEW ORLEANS  -  Ariel Mitchell had a season-high 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Dillard Lady Bleu Devils won their third straight game, 63-52 over Fisk University on Friday night on the Battlefield in Dent Hall on opening night of the MLK Weekend GCAC Midseason Tournament.

The Lady Bleu Devils remained undefeated in conference play at 3-0 and evened their overall record at 6-6.

The Fisk Lady Bulldogs (0-3, 3-8) gained the upper hand on the Lady Bleu Devils early in the first half, racing out to an 11-3 lead to begin the game. Ariel Mitchell led a 12-0 Lady Bleu Devil charge, scoring eight points during that span to help catapult Dillard into a 15-11 lead. The Lady Bleu Devils began to assert themselves on offense, while turning up the pressure on defense versus the Lady Bulldogs.

The Dillard Lady Bleu Devils continued to score at will on the Lady Bulldogs, although the score remained close throughout the first half. Dillard went into halftime up on the Lady Bulldogs 28-26. Ariel Mitchell led the Lady Bleu Devils with 13 first half points. The Lady Bleu Devil defense was as stingy as it has been all season, forcing the Lady Bulldogs into 19 first half turnovers while shooting on 37% from the field.

In the second half, the Lady Bleu Devils wasted little time capitalizing on Fisk's errors. The Lady Bleu Devils scored the first five points of the second half to take a commanding 33-26 lead. Fisk responded with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 33-33. Ariel Mitchell's three-point play broke the tie and gave the Lady Bleu Devils a lead that they would not relinquish. The Lady Bleu Devils were able to extend the lead to as much as sixteen with six minutes left in the game, and from there cruised to the victory.

Lauren Daniel contributed 11 points, 5 assist and 4 rebounds for the Lady Bleu Devils, while Jazzmin Smith tallied 10 points and 9 rebounds in the victory.

The Lady Bleu Devils will have little time to celebrate the victory, because they will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, January 14th. The Lady Bleu Devils will battle the Lady Panthers of Philander Smith on the Battlefield in Dent Hall. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m.

By Dillard University Sports Information

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