SEARCY, Ark. – Veronica Walker scored 23 points to lead the No. 9 Delta State Lady Statesmen to a 79-65 win over the Lady Bisons over Harding on Thursday at the Rhodes Field House.

Walker (Indianola, Miss./Gentry HS) also grabbed 13 rebounds to complete a double-double performance, her 10th of the season and seventh in the last nine games. She was 9-of-13 from the floor.

Shameka Russell (Waynesboro, Miss./Southeastern Louisiana) came off the bench to score 18 points for Delta State (22-2, 11-2 Gulf South Conference West). Moe Bell added 14 points for the Lady Statesmen.

Bug Cooper (Indianola, Miss./Gentry HS) scored 14 points and handed out a game-high 15 assists for the Lady Statesmen. The all-time GSC leader in assists, Cooper finished one helper shy of her career best of 16 – a total she has reached twice against Harding.

Sierra Rollins scored a game-high 25 points for Harding (15-11, 7-6 GSC West). Bailey St. Clair added 21 points and pulled down a team-high eight assists.

After trailing by as many as 14 points early in the second half, the Lady Bisons were able to whittle the DSU lead to two points with 6:20 left the in game. However, Delta State never relinquished its lead as the Lady Statesmen embarked on a 14-3 run over the next four minutes to make the score 72-59 with a little more than two minutes remaining in the game.

The Lady Statesmen shot 53 percent (27-of-51) from the field during the game, which included a 59 percent showing (13-of-22) during a 45-point second half.

DSU ranks second in the GSC in defensive field goal percentage, and Thursday's game was no exception – the Lady Bisons shot 38 percent (21-of-55) from the floor.

Both teams stayed close to each other on the scoreboard during the first 10 minutes before the Lady Statesmen used an 11-3 run over a four-minute stretch to a take a 28-18 lead with 5:04 left before halftime.

The Lady Statesmen led 33-23 with less than three minutes left to play in the half, but a 7-1 Harding run to end the period cut the DSU lead to 34-30 at the break.

Walker scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the first half, while Russell added nine points during the first 20 minutes. Cooper tallied eight assists during the first half.

The Lady Statesmen conclude the regular season Saturday when they host Henderson State. The game, which is part of DSU Basketball's Senior Night festivities, is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Sillers Coliseum.