Box Score CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University Lady Statesmen Basketball team used a combined 49 points from three freshmen in a 99-37 route over visiting Selma University in the season opener, Monday, Nov. 12 at Walter Sillers Coliseum.
 
The 99 points were the most for a Lady Statesmen team since a 100-57 victory over Lambuth on Jan. 3, 2011.
 
First year head coach David Midlick also earned a victory in his first game as a collegiate head coach for DSU.
 
The Lady Statesmen (1-0) opened the game with an 8-0 run and did not look back en route to a commanding 51-18 lead at the half.
 
Chelsea Rhodes led the way for the Lady Statesmen with 15 first half points in her first collegiate contest. DSU finished the half 16-of-43 (37.2), while the Lady Bulldogs (0-2) went 5-of-28 (17.9). Crystal Turk led Selma with six first half points.
 
The domination continued in the second half, as the Lady Statesmen used a 13-5 run to increase the lead to 64-23.
 
DSU used relentless rebounding from Becca Ruckes and Ashley Brown down the stretch to close out the contest with a staggering 73-35 edge on the glass, including 32 offensive rebounds.
 
Ruckes opened her collegiate career with a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
 
Rhodes finished with a game high 17, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. Juquecia Chaney (16), Seneca Walton (13) and Brittany Roberts (12) also finished in double figures. All 10 Lady Statesmen that saw action scored in the game.
 
DSU shot 18-of-32 (56.3) in the second half, to finish 34-of-75 (45.3), while the Lady Bulldogs finished 11-of-58 (19.0). Turk and Mercedes Scott each had 11 to lead Selma.
 
The Lady Statesmen return to action on Friday, Nov. 16 at the Union University Tournament with a scheduled 5 p.m. tipoff against the No. 10 Clayton State University Lakers.
 
The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network.