GAME NOTES: LADY STATESMEN BASKETBALL @ GSC TOURNAMENT (3.1-4.12)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Lady Statesmen (20-5, 12-2 GSC) of Delta State University enters Gulf South Conference Tournament play on Thursday, March 1 at The Arena in Niceville, Fla., as the No. 1 seed after winning the GSC regular season title.  DSU is making its 24th appearance in the GSC Tournament.  In their 23 previous appearances, the Lady Statesmen are 49-9 with 21 finals appearances and 15 league championships.  DSU holds the GSC Tournament records for wins (49), appearances (24), semifinal berths (22), finals (21) and championships 15). 

Delta State will face No. 8 seed Christian Brothers University (5-21, 2-12 GSC) for the second time in a week on Thursday, March 1 at 12:30 p.m. CST.  The Lady Statesmen demolished the Lady Buccaneers 88-45 at Walter Sillers Coliseum in the regular season finale on Saturday, Feb. 25.  DSU is 2-0 this season against CBU.  The winner of the game will square off with the victor in the No. 4/5 contest between the University of West Alabama (11-14, 6-8 GSC) and the University of West Florida (10-16, 6-8 GSC) on Saturday, March 3 in the semifinals.   

The Lady Statesmen are 12-2 against teams playing this week in the Gulf South Conference Tournament, including a 6-0 mark versus teams on the same side of the bracket. 

Senior forward Veronica Walker (2,128 points/1,043 rebounds) became just the third player to win Gulf South Conference Player of the Year honors three years in a row on Tuesday.  Walker, who is only the 4th Lady Statesman and 3rd player in GSC history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career, led the GSC in scoring (18.5), field goal percentage (55.8%) and ranked third in rebounding (8.4). A two-time WBCA All-American, Walker is a leading candidate for the WBCA's State Farm National Player of the Year Award.

Sophomore shooting guard Brooke Rhodes earned All-GSC Second Team honors this week after finishing the regular season second on the team in scoring (13.1) and seventh in the GSC.  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 23 times this year. 

Freshman guard/forward Rhandi Ball became the fourth Lady Statesman under coach Sandra Rushing to be named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year.  Ball joins All-Americans Jennifer Rushing (2005) and Veronica Walker (2008) and All-GSC pick Emily Mabus (2003) as winners of the prestigous honor.  The Pontotoc, Miss., native finished the regular season averaging 5.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals.  Ball closed the regular season with a double-double and 14 points and career best 16 rebounds versus CBU.   

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 252-56 record over the last 10 seasons, Biloxi, Miss., native Sandra Rushing earned her 400th career victory in an 80-52 victory over the University of New Orleans on Thursday, Feb. 23.  In her 22-year career, Rushing is 401-252 (.638) with four GSC 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 await word from the NCAA Division II Basketball Championship Selection Committee on whether the Lady Statesmen will participate in the NCAA South Region Tournament to be held March 9-12 at a yet to be determined campus location.  

LADY STATESMEN SEEKING 16th GSC CROWN
Delta State will be looking for its 16th Gulf South Conference Championship this Thursday, March 1 through Sunday, March 4 at The Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College. 

The Lady Statesmen boast 15 league titles are 11 more than the next closest league member. Arkansas Tech had four with Valdosta State and West Georgia having two each.

This year's GSC Tournament promises to offer some of the top teams in the NCAA South Region and three teams with at least 19 wins on the season.  The winner of this season's title will have an excellent shot at hosting the NCAA South Region Tournament on March 9-12 at a college campus near you. 

Year  Opponent  Result
1983  Valdosta State  L, 83-85
1986  Valdosta State  W, 87-69
1987  West Alabama  W, 93-53
1988  Jacksonville State  W, 98-69
1989  West Georgia  W, 77-72 OT
1992  West Georgia  L, 52-64
1993  Jacksonville State  L, 65-67
1995  Mississippi College  W, 86-64
1996  Central Arkansas  W, 86-68
1997  Valdosta State  W, 76-53
1999  Arkansas Tech  W, 63-59
2000  Arkansas Tech  W, 70-66
2001  Arkansas Tech  W, 60-52
2002  Arkansas Tech  W, 53-47
2004  Henderson State  L, 52-53 OT
2006  Henderson State  W, 64-53
2007  Arkansas Tech  W, 66-59
2008  Arkansas Tech  W, 80-61
2009  Arkansas-Monticello  W, 53-51 OT
2010  Arkansas Tech  L, 73-75 2OT
2011 Arkansas Tech L, 62-73

LADY STATESMEN OWN GSC TOURNAMENT RECORD BOOK
The Lady Statesmen will be making their 25th appearance in the
GSC Tournament, boasting a league best 15 championships and an
all-time mark of 49-9 in GSC postseason play. DSU has appeared in a record 22 semifinals and 21 finals. DSU's 15 championships are 11 more than any other GSC school. 

GSC Tournament Appearances:  24*
GSC Tournament Record:  49-9 (.844)*
Semifinal Appearnaces:  22*
Finals Appearances:  21*
Last Finals Appearance:  2010-11/ATU 73-DSU 62
GSC Championships:  15*
Last Title:  2008-09/DSU 53 - UAM 51 (OT)
Rushing at GSC Tournament:  18-4 (.812)
GSC Championships under Rushing:  4
GSC Finals Appearances under Rushing:  7

WELCOME TO THE ARENA
The Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla., will serve as the home of this year's GSC Women's Basketball Tournament.  The 2,400 seat venue was opened a year ago and features state-of-the-art scoreboards that will certainly enhance the fan experience at the GSC Tournament.

CLEVELAND - TITLE TOWN
The Delta State University Lady Statesmen have dominated the Gulf South Conference over the years.  The Lady Statesmen own virtually every GSC and NCAA Tournament record in the books. In NCAA history, DSU has appeared in a league-record 23 NCAA regionals with an all-time record of 54-21 (.722). 

The Lady Statesmen have made 13 NCAA Elite Eight appearances and nine Final Fours, including 2007-08 and 2008-09, and four championship appearances. 

The Lady Statesmen have claimed three NCAA National Championships (1989, 1990, and 1992) and three A.I.A.W. crowns (1975, 1976, and 1977).  No other school in the GSC has claimed a national championship in women's basketball.

WALKER NAMED GSC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
For the third consecutive season, Delta State forward Veronica Walker earned the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year Award. Walker, who also was the GSC's West Division Player of the Year each of the last two seasons, dominated the paint this season for the Lady Statesmen.  The senior from Indianola, Miss., leads the GSC in scoring (18.5), field goal percentage (.558), and double-doubles (10). She is also fifth in rebounding (8.4). She was named GSC Player of the Week three times – tied second most this season.

Walker's selection marks the 13th time a Lady Statesman has been named the GSC's top player and the fifth time under head coach Sandra Rushing.  She is just the third player to repeat as winner three times in a career.

Year Player of the Year
1985-86  Delinda Samuel
1989-90  Crystal Hardy
1991-92  Latonya Patty
1995-96  Stacy Johnson
1997-98  Trina Davis
1998-99  Nicole Trotter-Francis
1999-2000  Caroline Boclair
2000-01  Caroline Boclair
2006-07  Jennifer Rushing
2007-08  Jennifer Rushing
2009-10  Veronica Walker
2010-11 Veronica Walker
2011-12 Veronica Walker

WALKER & RHODES NAMED ALL-GSC; BALL FRESHMAN HONORS
Delta State's Veronica Walker (1st Team) and Brooke Rhodes (2nd Team) were named the Gulf South Conference All-GSC Team on Tuesday, Feb. 28 by a vote of the league's coaches.  Freshman guard/forward Rhandi Ball took home Freshman of the Year honors as well.  Walker averaged 18.5 ppg, while Rhodes chipped in with 13.1 ppg.  Ball is an all-around asset for DSU, averaging 5.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.  

WALKER MOVES TO 3RD ON CAREER SCORING CHART;
Veronica Walker (2,107 points/1,038 rebounds) moved into third place on Delta State's career scoring chart, passing LaTanya Patty (2,102)after dropping 25 points on New Orleans (2.23).  Walker became only the 4th Lady Statesman and 3rd player in GSC history to join the 2,000 point and 1,000 rebound club with her 18 point scoring effort against Valdosta State (2.2) and her eight rebound performance again West Florida (2.4).

RUSHING FOCUSED ON DELIVERING TITLE TO CLEVELAND
In the last seven years, coach Sandra Rushing has guided the Lady Statesmen to a 196-28 record, four Gulf South Conference championships, two NCAA South Region titles, six-straight NCAA Sweet 16 finishes and back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances; but it's still not enough.  Rushing came to Delta State to do one thing, win a national championship.  This year's goal is the same as the last five and the Biloxi native and former Alabama standout will take nothing less. 

RUSHING GRABS 400th CAREER WIN
Coach Sandra Rushing claimed her 400th career victory on Thursday, Feb. 23 in an 80-52 win over New Orleans at Walter Sillers Coliseum.  After guiding the Lady Statesmen to a 252-56 record over the last 10 seasons, Biloxi, Miss., native Rushing is 401-252 (.638) in her 22-year career with four Gulf South titles, seven NCAA DII Tournament appearances, two NCAA Final Fours and six-straight “Sweet 16” finishes.

DEFENSE DRIVES CHAMPIONSHIPS
DSU has historically been a dominant defensive basketball team and coach Sandra Rushing has hung her hat on the ability to stop the opposition.  If you look back over Delta State's four-straight Gulf South Conference championship seasons, the Lady Statesmen finished first in the conference in scoring and field goal percentage defense, while finishing no lower than fourth in the NCAA in scoring defense. 

Coach Sandra Rushing and the Lady Statesmen are once again setting the standard for defense in the Gulf South Conference, allowing a league-low 51.4 points per game and 35.1 field goal percentage defense.  DSU ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense and 19th in 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 16 times, including 13 out of their last 17 games by the Lady Statesmen.

YEAR NCAA RANK SCORING DEFENSE
2011-12 4th 51.4
2010-11 5th 54.3
2009-10 12th 54.9
2008-09 4th 52.0
2007-08 3rd 51.6
2006-07 3rd 49.2
2005-06 3rd 46.8
2004-05 17th 56.1
2003-04 4th 53.1
2002-03 NR 64.8

WALKER CLIMBING GSC SCORING CHART
Senior forward Veronica Walker has been a machine during her four year career for the Lady Statesmen.  In 124 games, Walker has scored 2,128 points (T-4th), grabbed 1,043 rebounds (11th) and blocked 228 shots (4th) to rank as one of the greatest players to ever compete in the Gulf South Conference.  The Indianola, Miss., native currently ranks fifth all-time in GSC scoring and could easily climb all the way to third. 

2,636  Shannon Williams, Valdosta State (105 games)  1986-90
2,447  Carone Harris, Central Arkansas (132 games)   2001-05
2,192  Velisa Levett, West Georgia (105 games)  1987-91
2,128 Veronica Walker (124 games) 2008-Present
2,128  Dana Bright, Jacksonville State (119 games)  1987-91
2,106  LaTanya Patty, Delta State (123 games)  1990-93

SCRAPPY NINE...EIGHT...
The Lady Statesmen have battled through some tough situations this season to get to 20 wins, including playing the majority of the year with only nine players.  DSU lost freshman guard Kenisha Henry before the West Georgia game to drop the number of game-ready players to eight.  Freshman forward Ashley Brown was lost for the season in August due to a knee injury as well.   

COMEBACK KIDS
The Lady Statesmen enter the Gulf South Conference Tournament with an outstanding 20-5 record after losing four starters off last year's club.  In fact, Delta State has claimed 11 come-from-behind wins this season, including a 10-point deficit in a key 54-49 win at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla. 

LADY STATESMEN IN THE PAINT
This season, the Lady Statesmen are dominating the offensive floor, particularly in the paint.  They are outscoring the opponent 718-492 in the low post.  The green-and-white have impressively scored 20 points in the painted area 21 times this season, and three times the Lady Statesmen have scored over 40 points down-low.  Delta State is averaging an impressive 28.7 points in the paint while the opposition is averaging 9.0 points less (19.7).

SECOND CHANCE POINTS
The Lady Statesmen have outscored their opposition 318-191 on second chance points this season or 12.7 ppg to 7.6 ppg. 

SHOOTING FOUL
The Lady Statesmen are .708 from the free-throw line so far this year thanks in part to Brooke Rhodes' 84.2% which ranks second in the conference. Denesha Henderson ranks fifth on the conference list shooting 78.3% and Veronica Walker's 74.0% is good for the sixth spot. 

ON THE REBOUND
Through 25 games, the Lady Statesmen have amassed a total of 980 rebounds which is good for an average of 39.2 per game. DSU is averaging 8.0 more rebounds per game than its opponents.

WELCOME TO MY BLOCK PARTY
Veronica Walker ranks second on the Lady Statesmen's all-time blocked shots list with 224 in her career; only nine shy from becoming the Lady Statesmen's all-time leader, which is held by Pam Lockett with 232.  Walker's 224 blocks are also good for fourth in GSC history.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Lady Statesmen are 1-1 this season against ranked opponents, splitting a home-and-home series with No. 21 Florida Southern.  Delta State is also 2-2 against teams receiving votes in the WBCA/USA Today-ESPN DII Top 25 Poll. 

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 1,021-245-3 record.  The Lady Statesmen also hold the GSC record for all-time wins with a 664-134 mark.

20 X 7 = SUCCESS
The Lady Statesmen claimed their 20th win of the season last Saturday versus Christian Brothers, marking seven straight 20-win seasons.

NEW VENUE LEADS TO GSC CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESSES
The Lady Statesmen have experienced a high level of success every time the Gulf South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament has changed locations/venues.  Delta State claimed the first GSC title played at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Miss., back in 2001-2002 and the first at the Desoto Civic Center in Southaven, Miss., in the 2005-2006 campaign. 

LADY STATESMEN ENTER GSC TOURNEY 4th IN SOUTH REGION
No single Gulf South Conference has been more important for the Lady Statesmen than the one coming up this week at The Arena in Niceville, Fla.  Delta State enters the affair ranked No. 4 in the latest NCAA South Region Poll and needs a strong showing to guarantee a solid seed in the upcoming NCAA DII South Regional, which will most likely be played at either No. 14 Rollins (20-4) in Orlando, Fla., or in Lakeland, Fla., at No. 21 Florida Southern (20-5).

OLYMPIC & NBA LINKS
Former Lady Statesmen great Lusia Harris-Stewart holds the distinction of scoring the first basket in Olympic Women's Basketball history.  Harris was also drafted by the NBA's New Orleans Jazz following the 1977-78 season, becoming the first female drafted into the National Basketball Association. 

MASH UNIT...DELTA STYLE
Injuries are a part of the game, but this season they have been especially tough on Lady Statesmen freshmen.  Delta State lost promising forward Ashley Brown, a 6-foot Cleveland High product, to a knee injury before the season and two weeks ago lost the services of freshman point guard Kenisha Henry, a 5-foot-8 Carrollton, Miss., native to a similar injury. 

ESPN TO CARRY GSC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
The Gulf South Conference's involvement with ESPN has stretched into 2012 after the league announced that its 2012 Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament Title Games will be shown by ESPN.  The 2012 Women's Title Game tips-off at 11:00 am (Central) on Sunday, March 4 at The Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, FL.  The Men's Championship Game follows approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the women's final.  For ESPN3 access, fans can watch at WatchESPN.com on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN App and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE.

RHODES RISING UP
Pelahatchie, Miss., native Brooke Rhodes has risen to the occasion this season after being a role player for the Lady Statesmen her freshman year. Rhodes' has started and played in all 25 games this season for the green-and-white and is averaging 35.8 minutes per game coming into the Gulf South Conference tournament; whereas last season she only made one starting appearance for Delta State.

Rhodes not only has proved to be able to withstand the rigors of playing a significant amount of minutes for the Lady Statesmen but has shown that she can contribute both offensively and defensively. The sophomore is averaging 13.1 points per game, connecting on a 112-of-277 (40.4%) shots from the floor and an impressive 37-of-109 (33.9%) from behind the arc. Like most sharpshooters Rhodes is able to convert from the charity stripe completing 67-of-79 (84.8%) attempts from the line.

RAY OF LIGHT FOR LADY STATESMEN
Aubrey Ray who averages 5.2 points per game has entered her sophomore season on a mission to lay claim to the paint area no matter the cost. Ray on the season has totaled 41 blocked shots and averages 4.1 rebounds per game for the Lady Statesmen.

The Hernando, Miss., native set two career-highs this season one being at West Florida on Jan. 7, when she rejected 7 Argonaut shot attempts and also snagged 10 rebounds in Carrollton, Ga., against West Georgia on Feb. 9. Ray has approached double-double status twice so far this season and is on the verge of breaking through that barrier.

STEPPING IN AND TAKING OVER
Brittany Roberts a junior transfer from Shelton State Community College has stepped in and filled the role of a true point guard for the Lady Statesmen this season. In her debut for the green-and-white Roberts posted 22 points and pair of assists in the Lady Statesmen's 79-48 victory over Southern Arkansas.

Roberts averages 5.8 points and 3.6 assists per game this season with a high of nine assists in a 72-60 win against Lincoln Memorial on Nov. 27. The junior guard has also eclipsed the five assists mark eight times this season.

HENDERSON'S FINAL ACT
Senior guard Denesha Henderson is making the most out of her last season donning the colors of green-and-white. Henderson stepped out of the shadows and showed that she is ready to bear the load of a senior leader on Jan. 19 when she posted a career-high 28 points in the 92-74 win over Gulf South Conference rival Alabama-Huntsville.

The Guy, Ark. native provided encore performances to lead the Lady Statesmen on the road past GSC conference foes Christian Brothers and West Georgia posting her first and second-career double-doubles with 11 points and 10 rebounds against the Buccaneers and 21 points and 10 rebounds performance against the Wolves.

Henderson is capping off her senior year averaging 9.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in Gulf South Conference action while connecting on 80 percent from the charity stripe, but what doesn't show up in the statistics is her relentless pressure defensively on the basketball.

WALTON'S BALL
Freshman forward Seneca Walton has made her presence known when coming off the bench for the Lady Statesmen. The 6-foot-1 Walton has not cut opposing teams any slack by averaging 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Walton has made the most of her time spent on the court scoring in double figures five times with her career-best coming at the hands of Christian Brothers University when Walton connected on 6-of-7 shots from the floor and 5-of-5 from the charity stripe for a total of 17 points in an 88-45 win. The Clarksdale, Miss., native not only scores for the Lady Statesmen but also cleans the glass posting two double-digit rebound performances this season with a career-high 15 against Gulf South Conference foe Alabama-Huntsville.

FRESHMAN SENSATION
Randi Ball, a product of Pontotoc High School, has burst onto the scene this year starting in five games for the Lady Statesmen. The freshman is tallying 5.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season, while dishing out a total of 49 assists and collecting 38 steals for the green-and-white.

Ball has scored in the double figures five times this season which includes a career-high 16 points against Tougaloo College on Dec. 30, and has posted two double-doubles in her first season, including one in the regular season finale against Christian Brothers University on Feb. 25, when she bucketed 14 points and racked up a career-high 16 rebounds.

DAVIS' DETERMINATION
Ann Shelby Davis has come on strong as of late for the Lady Statesmen finding her niche using the dribble drive to create scoring opportunities from inside the arc. Davis is 11-of-25 (44%) from the floor in the last three games for the green-and-white. Davis through the past ten games has been near automatic from the charity stripe connecting on 15-of-16 of her attempts. Davis ended the regular season posting a career-high 10 points against Christian Brothers University on Feb. 25 when the Lady Statesmen won in dominating fashion 88-45.

The Copiah-Lincoln Community College transfer has also provided fresh legs and solid defense for the Lady Statesmen this year averaging 18. 1 minutes per game.