GAME NOTES: NCAA South Region Tournament Release [PDF]

CLEVELAND – The No. 8 Lady Statesmen (25-3) of Delta State University begin their quest for a third straight NCAA South Region championship and the 14th overall in program history this week at the NCAA South Region Tournament, hosted by Arkansas Tech University at Tucker Coliseum. The tournament runs March 12-16, 2010 in Russellville, Ark.

NCAA South Region Tournament action begins Friday, March 12 at 1:30 p.m. for the Lady Statesmen, who are seeded No. 2 in this year's regional. As the No. 2 seed, the green-and-white will tangle with the No. 7 seeded Lady Knights (16-10) of Lynn University, who upset Barry University 54-52 in the Sunshine State Conference championship on Sunday to get into the South Regional. The game will mark the third meeting all-time between the two programs and the first in NCAA postseason play. The series is tied at 1-1.

The Lady Statesmen are making their 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance in Division II's big dance. Delta State boasts a 51-19 record in NCAA postseason play, including 14 Elite Eight appearances, 10 Final Four berths, four championship game appearances and three NCAA Division II National Championships.

Sophomore center and GSC West Player of the Year Veronica Walker, who averages 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and junior All-American and guard Sarita “Bug” Cooper, who leads the NCAA in assists per game (8.86), will lead the charge for coach Sandra Rushing (202-46), who has guided the Lady Statesmen to back-to-back South Region titles.

Every game at the 2010 NCAA South Region Tournament will be featured on the Statesmen Sports Network. Coverage begins 15 minutes prior to tip-off with the “SouthGroup Insurance Locker Room Report.” DSU fans can also follow the action on Facebook.com/dsustatesmen or Twitter.com/dsustatesmen.