CLEVELAND - Sophomore point guard Bug Cooper finished with a career-high 19 points, as the Delta State University Lady Statesmen opened Gulf South Conference play with a 66-50 over Ouachita Baptist Saturday at Walter Sillers Coliseum.  

The victory was the 28th straight for the Lady Statesmen at home dating back to the 2005-2006 season.  DSU improves to 11-5 overall and 1-0 in the GSC, while the Lady Tigers fall to 10-3 and 0-1 in league play. 

After a sluggish start by both teams, offense started rolling for the Lady Statesmen, as DSU connected on 42 percent of its shots from floor in the half to lead 34-30 at the break.   

The much improved Lady Tigers kept pace with Delta State for most of the first half and made their chances at the line, shooting 10-of-12 from the stripe, and actually held a two point lead early in the half.   

Delta State freshman Veronica Walker was hot right from the tip-off, scoring a first half-high 14 points including eight of the team's first 12 points. 

Delta State came out scoring early in the second half, leading by as many as 17 points in the second frame with a little over 15 minutes left to play. 

OBU didn't make any adjustments down the stretch in the second half, shooting 7-of-29 from the floor and just 29 percent for the game.

DSU closed the game on an 8-0 run to seal the 66-50 victory. 

Delta State shot 45 percent for the game, despite going 1-of-9 from three point range.  The Lady Statesmen dominated the boards 42-33 and outscored the Tigers 46-20 in the paint. 

Cooper finished with a career-high 19 points to lead all scorers. Walker knocked down 16, while LaMaesha McAdory finished with 10. Cooper added six assists, and Courtney Wilson contributed with eight points and eight rebounds.

Domino Miller led OBU with 11 points.

The Lady Statesmen will continue conference action on Thursday, Jan.15, as they battle Arkansas-Monticello at Walter Sillers Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.