GAME NOTES: Lady Statesmen Basketball vs. Alabama-Huntsville/North Alabama (2.16-18.12)
Complete Weekly Release with stats, standings, notes and rankings in PDF

CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Lady Statesmen (17-4, 10-1 GSC) of Delta State University can grab a share of the Gulf South Conference regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GSC Women's Basketball Tournament with a victory this Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Chargers (18-4, 9-2 GSC) of the University of Alabama-Huntsville.  Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at Spraggins Hall. 

Delta State will close out the week on Saturday, Feb. 18 versus the Lions (12-11, 3-8 GSC) of the University of North Alabama at Sillers Coliseum.  Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.  DSU will hold its annual “Play for Kay” Cancer Awareness Day as well as honoring the 20th anniversary of DSU's 1992 NCAA Division II National Championship. 

This week's opponents feature traditional rival North Alabama and up-and-coming Alabama-Huntsville in two pivotal games for the Lady Statesmen.  DSU and UAH have met just 10 times in series history with the Lady Statesmen holding a 9-1 edge in the standings.  The Lions-Lady Statesmen series is 47 games old with DSU leading the all-time series 42-5.  DSU defeated UAH (92-74) and UNA (67-45) in back-to-back games back in January.    

Veronica Walker (2,051 points/1,016 rebounds) became only the 4th Lady Statesman and 3rd player in GSC history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career. Her 18-point scoring effort against Valdosta State (2.2) and her eight rebound performance again West Florida (2.4) put her in the illustrious club that features former Lady Statesmen such as: Lusia Harris (1974-77), Deborah Temple (1982-84), and LaTanya Patty (1990-93).  Walker leads DSU and the GSC in scoring (18.4) and field goal percentage (54.9) heading into the week.  

Sophomore shooting guard Brooke Rhodes scored a career-high 27 points in DSU's 65-42 win over West Alabama at Pruitt Hall last Saturday.  The Pelahatchie, Miss., native ranks 7th in the GSC in scoring at 13.8 points per game. 

Coach Sandra Rushing and the Lady Statesmen are once again setting the standard for defense in the Gulf South Conference, allowing a league-low 51.0 points per game and 35.3 field goal percentage defense. DSU has allowed an opponent over 60 points just four times, including a season-high of 74 in a 92-74 win against Alabama Huntsville. In fact, opponents have been held below at or below 50 points 15 times, including 12 out of its last 15 games for the Lady Statesmen.

After guiding the Lady Statesmen to a 249-55 record over the last 10 seasons, Biloxi, Miss., native Sandra Rushing is approaching 400 career wins.  In her 22-year career, Rushing is 398-251 (.638) with four Gulf South Conference titles, seven NCAA DII Tournament appearances, two NCAA Final Fours and six-straight “Sweet 16” finishes.

One of the nation's most successful women's programs, Delta State holds Gulf South Conference records for GSC titles (15),  NCAA postseason appearances (24), victories (52), Elite Eight appearances (13), Final Four berths (9) and NCAA/AIAW National Championships (6).  The Lady Statesmen's 54 NCAA Tournament wins are also a Division II record.

UP NEXT
DSU welcomes in the University of New Orleans (2.23/6 p.m.) and Christian Brothers University (2.25/4 p.m.) to close out the regular season next week.  DSU will host “Senior Day” and “Staff Appreciation Night” on Feb. 25.

SHARE OF REGULAR SEASON TITLE ON THE LINE
The Lady Statesmen and Chargers have only met 10 times on the hardwood and Thursday's showdown at Spraggins Hall in Huntsville, Ala., will have major implications on the chase for the GSC regular season title and No. 1 seed at the upcoming GSC Tournament.  With a win, DSU would clinch at least a share of the regular season crown and a loss would drop DSU back into a tie with UAH with two games remaining in league play. 

DSU, which leads the all-time series 9-1, defeated UAH 92-74 on Jan. 19 led by Denesha Henderson's career-high 28 points.  This week's game will be even more challenging considering the Chargers are 11-0 at home this season.

BREAKING HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The Lady Statesmen look to break an 11 game home win streak that is held by the Lady Chargers inside Spragins Hall this season. The Lady Chargers only close call at home this season came during a 73-69 victory over GSC opponent Valdosta State (1.12).

Alabama-Huntsville is averaging 84 points per contest at home this season while Delta State has shut down opposing teams on their home-court to just 49 points per game.

LIONS-LADY STATESMEN SERIES RENEWED
Saturday's clash at Sillers Coliseum marks the 48th meeting all-time between North Alabama and Delta State.  The Lady Statesmen have dominated the series over the years, holding a 42-5 edge in the standings.  The Lady Statesmen downed the Lions 67-45 on Jan. 21 at Flowers Hall in Florence, Ala.

WALKER JOINS ELITE 2,000 POINTS/1,000 REBOUNDS CLUB
Veronica Walker (2,051 points/1,016 rebounds) became only the 4th Lady Statesman and 3rd player in GSC history to join the 2,000 point and 1,000 rebound club. Her 18 point scoring effort against Valdosta State (2.2) and her eight rebound performance again West Florida (2.4) put her in the illustrious club that features former Lady Statesmen such as: Lusia Harris (1974-77), Deborah Temple (1982-84), and LaTanya Patty (1990-93).

DEFENSE NAME OF THE GAME FOR LADY STATESMEN
Coach Sandra Rushing and the Lady Statesmen are once again setting the standard for defense in the Gulf South Conference, allowing a league-low 51.0 points per game and 35.3 field goal percentage defense.

DSU has allowed an opponent over 60 points just four times, including a season-high of 74 in a 92-74 win against Alabama Huntsville. In fact, opponents have been held below at or below 50 points 15 times, including 12 out of their last 15 games by the Lady Statesmen.

WALKER PUTTING UP PLAYER OF THE YEAR NUMBERS
Senior power forward and WBCA National Player of the Year candidate Veronica Walker continues to set the standard in the GSC. The two-time All American is averaging a Gulf South Conference leading 18.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game to lead the Lady Statesmen.

In 21 games, the Indianola, Miss., native has turned in eight double doubles with a career-high 35 points coming versus Lincoln Memorial and a season-high 14 boards versus Alabama Huntsville (1.19).  In her four-year career, Walker ranks fourth all-time in career scoring at Delta State with 2,051 points and sixth in GSC history.

BLACK & BLUE...RHODES HEATING UP AT RIGHT TIME
After taking a hard elbow to her left eye, sophomore shooting guard Brooke Rhodes has apparently been a able to focus on the hoop a little better, as the Pelahatchie, Miss., native scored a career-high 27 points and pulled down eight rebounds in a 65-42 win at West Alabama. 

The former East Rankin star ranks seventh in the GSC in scoring (13.8) while leading DSU in 3-pointers made (35) and attempted (93) this season.  She has scored in double figures in 18 games for the Lady Statesmen, including 20+ points three times this year. 

RUSHING NEARING 400-WIN PLATEAU
After guiding the Lady Statesmen to a 249-55 record over the last 11 seasons, Biloxi, Miss., native Sandra Rushing is approaching 400 career wins.  In her 22-year career, Rushing is 398-251 (.638) with four Gulf South Conference titles, seven NCAA DII Tournament appearances, two NCAA Final Fours and six-straight “Sweet 16” finishes.

PLAY 4 KAY
The initiative to raise breast cancer awareness will hit Sillers Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 18 when the Lady Statesmen tip-off against the University of North Alabama. Play 4 Kay is named after legendary women's basketball coach Kay Yow who united thousands in the fight against cancer until her passing on Jan. 24, 2009.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF 1992
Saturday, Feb. 18 players from the 1992 National Championship team will reunite inside Sillers Coliseum to be recognized for their outstanding 30-4 overall record and 65-63 victory over North Dakota State University 20 years ago.

DEE'S NOT JUST FOR DEFENSE ANYMORE
Senior guard Denesha Henderson is continues on her career-best pace with a 7.5 points per game scoring average. The Guy, Ark., native has never averaged more than 2.8 points per game, but this season is quite different. Using a spot-on mid-range jumper, Henderson has connected on 54-of-127 shots from the field (42.5%), while clearing 4.0 boards per game.

Henderson scored a career-high 28 points against conference foe Alabama Huntsville (1.19) and recorded her first double-double of her career with an 11 point/10 rebound performance against Christian Brothers (1.28) while her second career double-double of 21 points and 10 single handily helped fuel the Lady Statesmen past West Georgia (2.9).

OFF THE BENCH
Bench players for the Lady Statesmen have been playing a key role in the winning efforts this season. Rhandi Ball leads the team off the bench averaging 5.7 points per contest and her 37 assists is good for second on the team. Seneca Walton is shooting .493 from the floor this year connecting on 34-of-69 of her shots while Ann Shelby Davis has been averaging 16.2 minutes of playing time per game providing coach Rushing with fresh legs for the Lady Statesmen's suffocating defense.

SHOOTING FOUL
The Lady Statesmen are 70.2 from the free-throw line so far this year thanks in part to Brooke Rhodes' conference best 83.8%. Denesha Henderson ranks third on the conference list shooting 77.8% and Veronica Walker's 74.5% is good for the sixth spot. 

THERE'S ONLY ONE...
In the modern era of Lady Statesmen Basketball, Delta State has suffered just one losing season since 1975-76 and that was in 1979-80 under former head coach Frances Garmon.  DSU is the only school in NCAA history to top 1,000 wins, as the Lady Statesmen boast a 1,018-244-3 record.  The Lady Statesmen also hold the GSC record for all-time wins with a 662-133 mark.

WELCOME TO MY BLOCK PARTY
Veronica Walker ranks second on the Lady Statesmen's all-time blocked shots list with 216 in her career; only 16 shy from becoming the Lady Statesmen's all-time leader, which is held by Pam Lockett with 232.

BALL-IN LIKE AN UPPERCLASSMEN
Freshman guard/forward Rhandi Ball has gotten off to a fast start in her first season as at DSU, averaging 5.6 points and 5.0 rebounds, which rank second on the team. The Pontotoc, Miss., native is also second on the team with 37 assists. In 21 games, the former All-State selection at Pontotoc High has scored in double figures four times including an 11-point, 11-rebound effort in DSU's signature win at Florida Southern in the Lady Mocs Classic. 

ROBERTS RULES
Junior transfer point guard Brittany Roberts has settled in to her role as the new leader of the Lady Statesmen offense. The Meridian, Miss., native is averaging 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, which rank fourth in the GSC. The former Shelton State (Ala.) standout dished out a career-high nine assists versus Lincoln Memorial and has topped the six assists mark three times.

WALTON FINDING HER GROOVE
Freshman center Seneca Walton is starting to find her groove for the Lady Statesmen.  The Clarksdale, Miss., native turned in 11 points in DSU's 64-44 win over West Alabama (1.14), while providing a major spark off the bench with seven points and eight boards in the 64-40 win over West Georgia (1.12).  Through 21 games, Walton is averaging 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest.  She scored a season-high 12 points versus Saint Leo earlier this year. 

SCATTERED, SMOTHERED AND COVERED...RUSHING STYLE
The Lady Statesmen have always been sound defensively.  This season, DSU is making a mark with smothering defense.  DSU ranks No. 1 in the GSC in scoring defense (51.0), field goal percentage defense (35.3), 3-point FG percentage defense (24.4) and rebounding margin (+6.8).  All these numbers add up to another successful year for coach Sandra Rushing and the Lady Statesmen.

PUT IT IN THE BASKET...
Delta State enters week four of the Gulf South Conference schedule leading the league in field goal percentage.  The Lady Statesmen have connected on 478-of-1,091 shots for 43.8 percent.  DSU is just one of three schools in the GSC above 40 percent.

MINUTES ON THE CLOCK
Sophomore shooting guard Brooke Rhodes and senior forward Veronica Walker rank second and fourth respectively in the GSC in minutes played this season.  Rhodes is averaging 34.8 minutes on the floor per game while Walker is coming in at 32.4 minutes per game

DSU TIED TO BEGINNINGS OF WOMEN'S COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL
In the early 1970s, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women began a push to make women's basketball accessible to college and universities across the country.  Delta State was one of the first to make it a priority. 

Under Naismith Hall of Famer Margaret Wade, the Lady Statesmen enjoyed unprecedented success from 1974-75 to 1976-77, claiming three straight AIAW National Championships.  During her tenure as head coach, the Lady Statesmen went 157-23, including 93-4 during their national championship seasons.

After moving to NCAA Division II in 1986, the Lady Statesmen have continued to be one of the game's most successful programs.  DSU claimed NCAA DII national championships in 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1991-92.  The Lady Statesmen also boast the most wins by an NCAA DII member institution with 980 (980-241-3).

“FAB FIVE” THE FIRST OF MANY AT DSU
Coach Margaret Wade built a dynasty at Delta State around a group of players, known simply as the “Fab Five.”  Lusia Harris-Stewart (C), Debbie Brock (PG), Cornelia Ward (F), Wanda Hairston (F) and Ramona Von Boeckman (F) became the first and potentially only starting five named All-American in the same year.  All five DSU starters were named to the Hanes 1976-77 All-American Team following a 32-3 season and their third-straight AIAW national championship. 

BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME HOME TO TWO LADY STATESMEN
Delta State is the only university in Mississippi and the Gulf South Conference to boast two inductees into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame - Lily Margaret Wade (1986) and Lusia Harris-Stewart (1992).

Wade became the first female inductee in 1986 after a storied career as a collegiate and high school coach.  Her career record stands at 610-112 in 19 seasons at Cleveland High and six seasons at DSU. 

Harris-Stewart simply changed the game when arrived on the scene in 1975.  The 6-foot-3 center still stands as one of the game's all-time greats.  In four years at DSU, she scored 2,981 career points (25.9 ppg), grabbed 1,662 rebounds (14.4 rpg), and graduated with fifteen of eighteen DSU team, single game and career records. 

Harris-Stewart led DSU to a 109-6 record and three straight AIAW National Championships. Harris-Stewart was a member of the first-ever women's silver medal Olympic team in 1976, and held the distinction of being the team's leading scorer and leading rebounder.

LEGENDS COACH HERE
Very few coaches have had the impact on their respective universities like Margaret Wade and Lloyd Clark. The two coaches combined to win 651 games and six National Championships while prowling the sidelines at Delta State. Wade is often referred to as “the Mother of modern women's college basketball,” while Clark's teams were widely known for their defensive prowess and athleticism.

Wade coached the Lady Statesmen to three straight AIAW National Championships, and players under her direction remain on top of the DSU record books. Coach Wade had such an impact, that in 1978, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association named their Player of the Year award after coach Margaret Wade, The Wade Trophy.

Coach Wade had an unheard of record of 109-6 during her first four years at the helm of DSU Women's Basketball. In 1986, Wade became the first woman to be inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

During his 19 years as head coach, Lloyd Clark became one of the greatest coaches in women's basketball history. Clark compiled an amazing 494-98 record from 1983-2002. His teams won three NCAA DII National Championships, including back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990.  Clark's teams reached the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his 19 seasons, and advanced to the Elite Eight 11 times. Clark was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the year five times. In 2006, Clark was inducted into the MS Sports Hall of Fame.