GAME NOTES: Lady Statesmen vs. Christian Bros./UA-Monticello
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CLEVELAND - The No. 3 Lady Statesmen (16-1,4-1 GSC) of Delta State University look to extend their stranglehold on the GSC West Division with a pair of league contests this week. DSU will host Christian Brothers University (7-10, 0-5 GSC) on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. inside Sillers Coliseum before wrapping up the week Saturday, Jan. 29 at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (6-10, 2-2 GSC). Tip off is set for 2 p.m. at Steelman Fieldhouse in Monticello, Ark.

The Lady Statesmen and Lady Bucs are meeting for the 33rd time in school history with DSU owning a commanding 30-2 edge in the series. The Cotton Blossoms and Lady Statesmen are gearing up for their 48th match-up with DSU leading the series 38-9.

Delta State established a new school record for consecutive home wins (59) with a 68-55 victory over Arkansas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 22. The win snapped a tie with the legendary Lady Statesmen squads coached by Hall of Famer Margaret Wade, who won 58 from March 9, 1974 (Auburn - W, 78-58) to February 23, 1976 (Immaculata - L, 53-64).

The Lady Statesmen also received good news on the regional ranking front, pulling down the No. 1 spot in the South Region Poll released by the NCAA on Wednesday.  West Alabama was No. 2 followed by Florida Southern at No. 3.  Arkansas Tech was sixth. 

Senior point guard Sarita “Bug” Cooper has led the NCAA in assists each of the last two seasons and she has picked up right where she left off last year at No. 1 in 2010-11. Through 15 games, Cooper has dished out 143 assists/8.4 apg and she recently joined the 800-assists club with nine at Harding. Her 827 assists rank No. 1 all-time in Gulf South Conference history and the Indianola native needs just 20 points to join the 1,000 point club.

She also became the third Lady Statesman to receive the GSC West Division Player of the Week Award on Wednesday.  The Indianola native led DSU to a pair of wins last week, including a 68-58 win over Arkansas Tech.

Veronica Walker, a 6-foot-1 junior and top candidate for the WBCA's National Player of the Year, has turned in eight double-doubles for the Lady Statesmen. Walker ranks fourth in the GSC in scoring (17.1) and leads the league in rebounding (9.6) and blocks (2.6) blocks per game. She turned in her eighth double-double with 13 points and 17 boards in DSU's 68-58 win over then No. 2 ATU.

Three-point specialist Moe Bell adds to her school records for career three-pointers made and attempted every time out. The senior from Madison has connected on 255 career threes on 598 attempts. Both marks rank in the top six all-time in GSC history.

The return of “Delta D” has been a point of contention for the opposition this season, as the Lady Statesmen allow just 52.4 ppg, ranking third in NCAA Division II.  

Complete game notes, statistics and rankings are available by clicking on the link above.