CLEVELAND – The No. 2 Delta State Lady Statesmen used a 13-3 over the last four minutes of the game to pull away from Southern Arkansas and win 70-53 at Sillers Coliseum on Thursday.

Veronica Walker (Indianola, Miss./Gentry HS) finished a rebound shy of a double-double for the Lady Statesmen, pulling down nine caroms to go along with a game-high 19 points. Walker also blocked five shots.

Shameka Russell (Waynesboro, Miss./Southeastern Louisiana) added 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds for the Lady Statesmen.

Delta State (15-0, 4-0 Gulf South Conference) won its 43rd consecutive home game dating back to the 2006-2007 season.

Kmaria Hobbs scored 18 points for Southern Arkansas. The Lady Muleriders (7-10) fell to 1-3 in GSC play.

The Lady Statesmen survived a second half scare from their guests. After falling behind 41-29 at halftime, the Lady Muleriders clawed their way back into the game with a 9-2 run over the first eight and half minutes of the second half to make the score 43-38.

SAU was able to take advantage of poor shooting by Delta State during the first eight and half minutes of the second half. The Lady Statesmen were 1-of-13 from the field during that span and were 13-of-33 (39.4 percent) during the second half.

For the game, Delta State shot 43 percent (30-of-70) from the floor, while Southern Arkansas shot 37 percent (22-of-60) during the contest.

The Lady Statesmen seized control of the game early with a 9-2 run between the 17:43 and 14:48 marks to go up 13-5. Southern Arkansas, however, would not go away easily, as the Lady Muleriders kept the margin at single digits for most of the first half.

The Bug Cooper-to-Walker combo was virtually unstoppable in the early going. Walker scored 10 points in during her nine minutes of action in the first half, while Cooper (Indianola, Miss./Gentry HS) handed out seven assists before the 10-minute mark of the period.

Cooper finished the game with eight points, 10 assists and three steals. Ashley Martin (Memphis, Tenn./Southern Miss) scored eight points in only minutes of action for the Lady Statesmen.

Delta State took its first double-digit lead of the first half thanks to a 7-0 run between the 6:40 and 5:15 marks. Jimisha Washington (Cleveland, Miss./Coahoma CC) knocked down a layup off an assist from Tamara Reed to put the Lady Statesmen ahead 32-21.

Washington finished the game with six points. Denesha Henderson (Guy, Ark./Guy-Perkins HS) chipped in with four points.

Head coach Sandra Rushing emptied her bench early in the game, as every player on the roster played at least five minutes in the first half. Washington scored four points before halftime, while Ursula Wilson (Hollandale, Miss./Hollandale HS) and Joncyee Sanders (Brandon, Miss./Brandon HS) scored three points apiece, all in the first half.

The Lady Statesmen return to action when they travel to Russellville, Ark. to face Arkansas Tech. The game, scheduled for a 4 p.m. tipoff, will feature two teams ranked in the Top Ten, as the Golden Suns are ranked No. 9 in Division II.