Complete Delta State Women's Basketball Weekly Release [PDF]

CLEVELAND - The No. 2 ranked Lady Statesmen (14-0, 3-0 GSC) of Delta State University continue Gulf South Conference play this week with a pair of league games against Southern Arkansas (6-9, 1-2 GSC) and No. 9 Arkansas Tech (16-0, 3-0 GSC). Delta State hosts Southern Arkansas on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. before traveling to Arkansas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 23 for a 4 p.m. tipoff in Russellville, Ark.

Behind Sarita “Bug” Cooper's 16 points and nine assists, the Lady Statesmen remained perfect on the season and improved to 3-0 in GSC play with a 72-45 victory over Christian Brothers on Jan. 16 at Sillers Coliseum. Cooper's performance against CBU followed a career-high 27-point, 8-assist performance at Arkansas-Monticello.

A trio of Lady Statesmen enters this week's games playing quite well. Cooper, who has 527 career assists to rank sixth all-time in GSC history, leads the nation in assists with 7.7 per game. Sophomore Veronica Walker ranks third in the GSC in scoring at 17.6 ppg, while leading the league and ranking second in the NCAA in field goal percentage at 66.9 percent. Shameka Russell is growing into a dominant small forward - averaging 10.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

The Lady Statesmen lead the GSC in scoring defense (51.7 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (34.8 percent) with two games this week against high-scoring opposition on the horizon.

Both games will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to tip-off. Jimmy Smith, J.T. Webb and Alan Wiederhold have the call.