Complete game notes release [PDF]

CLEVELAND - The road to Southaven and a chance at an unprecedented fifth-straight Gulf South Conference championship begins Saturday, Jan. 9, as the No. 2 ranked Lady Statesmen (11-0, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University open league play at Ouachita Baptist University (8-5, 0-0 GSC) in Arkadelphia, Ark. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at Bill Vining Arena.

Under head coach Sandra Rushing (181-43/8th), the Lady Statesmen have claimed four-straight conference titles and are a favorite to win a fifth. Standing in the way of the green-and-white are the Lady Tigers of OBU. Saturday's game is a rematch of last season's heated NCAA South Region Championship game, won by DSU 50-49 on a tip back with less than four seconds remaining in the game. The game also marks the 23rd meeting all-time between the two schools, with DSU holding a 19-3 advantage in the series.

The Lady Statesmen enter the game with an 11-0 record after defeating the University of Montevallo 66-59 at Sillers Coliseum and 60-55 at BankTrust Arena to close the nonconference portion of their schedule.

Junior point guard Bug Cooper (5-6, Indianola) leads the nation in assists per game (7.64) heading into the contest. Sophomore power forward Veronica Walker (6-1, Indianola) has been nearly unstoppable of late, averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Junior small forward Shameka Russell (6-2, Waynesboro) is also averaging 11.3 points and 5.0 boards per game.

The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior to tip-off. Jimmy Smith, J.T. Webb and Oliver Mansour have the call.