GAME NOTES: Lady Statesmen Basketball vs. New Orleans/Christian Brothers (2.23-25.12)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Lady Statesmen (18-5, 11-2 GSC) of Delta State University will close out the regular season this week with a little pirate hunting, as the Privateers (0-24) of the University of New Orleans and the Lady Buccaneers (5-20, 2-11 GSC) of Christian Brothers University look to plunder Walter Sillers Coliseum.  Both games will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network (WMJW 107.5 FM/Cleveland).

Delta State and New Orleans will be meeting for just the 2nd time in series history on Thursday, Feb. 23.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at Sillers Coliseum.  The Lady Statesmen claimed a 77-49 victory in the first ever meeting with UNO back on Jan. 24 at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, La.  Aubree Ray led DSU with 16 points and nine boards in the win.  The Privateers have struggled to an 0-24 mark this season after announcing the transition from DIII to DII last summer. 

The regular season will come to a close on Saturday, Feb. 25 as Christian Brothers travels to DSU for the 35th meeting in series history.  The Lady Statesmen, who own a commanding 32-2 edge in the series standings, defeated CBU 57-44 at Canale Arena on Saturday, Jan. 28.  Veronica Walker led DSU with 15 points, while Denesha Henderson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

A victory by the Lady Statesmen Saturday versus Christian Brothers would guarantee at least a share of the Gulf South Conference regular season title with no lower than a No. 2 seed in the upcoming GSC Tournament.  

Senior forward and WBCA Player of the Year candidate Veronica Walker (2,082 points/1,032 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 (18.1) and field goal percentage (54.6) heading into the week.  

Sophomore shooting guard Brooke Rhodes ranks second on the team in scoring (13.5) and seventh in the GSC heading into the final week of the regular season.  The Pelahatchie, Miss., native scored a career-high 27 points in DSU's 65-42 win over West Alabama at Pruitt Hall on Saturday, Feb. 11.  In fact, Rhodes has scored in double figures 22 times this year. 

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 250-56 record over the last 10 seasons, Biloxi, Miss., native Sandra Rushing is just one win away from 400 career victories.  In her 22-year career, Rushing is 399-252 (.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 will begin postseason play next Thursday-Sunday, March 1-4 at the Gulf South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament in Niceville, Fla.  The four-day event will be held at The Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College.