Complete Final Stats

PENSACOLA, FLA. – The Delta State University women's basketball team snapped a three game losing streak to open the season on Saturday with a 44-42 victory over Tuskegee University at the University of West Florida Tip-off Classic. LaMaesha McAdory carried the Lady Statesmen to the win with her first double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Delta State improved to 1-3 on the year, while Tuskegee fell to 0-1. 

The Lady Statesmen and Lady Tigers battled back-and-forth for 40 minutes Saturday at Hartsell Arena. The first half proved to be a sloppy affair, as the Lady Statesmen took an 18-17 lead into the locker room. DSU trailed 9-2 before finding an offensive rhythm, closing the half on a 16-8 run. The Lady Tigers shot just 19.3 percent on 5-of-26 shooting. The Lady Statesmen didn't fare much better, hitting on 7-of-23 shots for 30.4 percent. 

The second half was simply a replay of the first. Neither team could find any offensive consistency to begin the second half, as both teams changed the lead eight times. 

With 7:18 remaining in the game, Jessica Pate gave Tuskegee their biggest lead of the game, 38-34. The Lady Statesmen struggled to answer, as neither team scored over the next three minutes. 

Shun Townsend made it a one point game, 37-38, with a deep three-pointer with 4:12 left in the game. 

After two missed shots by Tuskegee, senior forward Courtney Wilson was fouled with 3:28 left on the clock. The two-time All-GSC Tournament Team selection nailed both free throws to put the Lady Statesmen back on top 39-38. 

Rashaundra Gartrell's driving lay-up with 2:37 left gave the Lady Tigers the lead at 39-40. 

With the game on the line, sophomore sensation Bug Cooper crossed up the Tuskegee defense, nailing a lay-up to reclaim the lead, 41-40, with 2:01 to play. 

LaMaesha McAdory's lay-up with 1:22 remaining put the Lady Statesmen up 43-40. 

After a Townsend foul sent Tuskegee's Gartell to the line with the clock stopped, the Lady Tigers senior nailed two free throws to make it 43-42. 

With seven seconds remaining, Townsend swiped the ball from Tuskegee's Amina Swofford. Tuskgee's Page immediately fouled Cooper, who connected on the first free throw to increase Delta State's lead to 44-42. 

Cooper's second shot caromed off the rim to Gartell, who passed the ball quickly to Swofford. Her desperation three missed at the buzzer to preserve the Delta State win. 

McAdory finished the game with a team-leading 12 points. Cooper added six points, 10 rebounds, and a game-high five assists. Renita Jones contributed nine points and seven rebounds. 

Tuskegee's Rshaundra Gartrell led all scorers with 13 points. Jessica Adams added 12 points as well. 

The Lady Statesmen finished the game hitting on 17-of-48 shots for 35.4 percent, while holding the Lady Tigers to 24.5 percent on 13-of-53 shooting from the field. DSU managed just 2-of-6 from three points range and 8-of-17 from the charity stripe. TU connected on 2-of-9 from three and 14-of-18 from the free throw line. 

Among the deciding factors in the game, the Lady Statesmen dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Lady Tigers 46-34. DSU also outscored TU in the paint 19-10 and off the bench 12-4. 

Delta State will return to the court Sunday versus the Lady Argonauts of West Florida in the finale of the West Florida Tip-off Classic. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Hartsell Arena. Delta State's first home date is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21, as the Lady Statesmen host the Margaret Wade Classic at Walter Sillers Coliseum.