CLEVELAND – Senior Courtney Wilson tipped in LaMaesha McAdory's miss with 7.2 seconds remaining that capped off a 13-3 run to send Delta State University (29-6) to its second straight NCAA Elite Eight, with a thrilling 50-49 win over GSC foe Ouachita Baptist University.

In front of a crowd of 1,350 people inside Walter Sillers Coliseum, Ouachita Baptist (23-9) started out the game with their feet on the accelerator, as they jumped out with an 11-2 lead with an Angela Colliver three-pointer from the top of the key.

The Lady Statesmen responded with a free throw by McAdory that gave DSU a 16-15 advantage with 9:43 left in the opening stanza. DSU lead by as many as five, at 27-22 with 3:45 left before halftime, but the Lady Tigers, as they had done the whole season, fought back and took a 30-29 lead into the locker room at intermission.

DSU shot 11-of-25 (44%) in the first half, while OBU shot 7-of-20 (35%) from the floor. However, the Lady Tigers converted 14-of-16 from the free throw line in the first half, while DSU shot only 6-of-9.

Maranda Parker of OBU led all scorers with eight points in the half, while Bug Cooper led DSU with seven. DSU owned the advantage on the boards in the half, out-rebounding the Lady Tigers 17-13.

The second half saw the Garry Crowder coached Lady Tigers come out with steam from the locker room to start the half. OBU took a 42-33 lead with a jumper from Haley Griffin with 13:16 left in the contest.

A basket by Shameka Russell of ended nearly a four minute scoring drought for the Lady Statesmen, making the score 46-39 OBU, with 6:22 remaining in the contest. Russell again came to the rescue, scoring one-of-two from the free throw line to tie the game at 46 with 2:15 remaining.

Colliver made a layup with 1:55 left to give OBU a 48-46 edge, but freshman Veronica Walker, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, made a layup of her own that tied the game at 48-48.

A'Laeshia Adams of OBU was fouled by Walker with 37 seconds remaining. Her first free throw was true, but the second was long and rebounded by Walker.

This set up an epic ending, as McAdory missed a jumper, claimed her own rebound, and after missing for a second time, fifth-year senior forward Wilson tipped in the shot, giving the Lady Statesmen the 50-49 lead.

Adams drove the length of the floor for OBU and her desperation one handed shot from the base line was long, giving DSU the win.

With the win, the Lady Statesmen will advance to its second straight Elite 8 and its 13th in school history. Adams led all scorers with 14 points, and Wilson was the only player in double figures for DSU, finishing with a 10 point and 10 rebound performance.

OBU finished 15-of-45 (33.3 percent), while DSU connected on 20-of-50 (40 percent) from the floor.

DSU will face West Texas A&M in the National Quarterfinals on March 24 in San Antonio, Texas at Bill Greehey Arena. 


NCAA South Region All-Tournament Team

F - Veronica Walker, Delta State-MVP
G - Bug Cooper, Delta State
G - Gabby Coleman, Ouachita 
G - A'Laisha Adams, Ouachita
G - Hailee Sullivan, Tampa