Box Score WINTER PARK, Fla. – In a heated physical battle of ups and downs the Delta State University women's basketball team exited the NCAA DII South Regional Tournament in a 69-59 loss to Rollins College Saturday, March 10 inside Warden Arena.

The Lady Statesmen (22-7) started the game against the Tars (26-5) sluggish, unable to convert on the offensive end of the court shooting 0-of-4 from the field and giving away four turnovers but the green-and-white's defense kept the game close and only to trailed 0-6 at the 15:43 mark.

The green-and-white fought back, led by Ann-Shelby Davis who connected on two straight shots to close the gap to 6-4 while Rhandi Ball connected on a free-throw and a lay-up to give the Lady Statesmen their first lead of the game at 7-6 with 11:42 remaining in the first-half.

Delta State was carried on the shoulders by South Region Player of the Year Veronica Walker who drained back-to-back three point shots to rally the Lady Statesmen late in the first-half railing off an 8-3 run to put the Lady Statesmen up 26-19 at the end of the first-half.

Walker and Davis both led the Lady Statesmen going into the locker room with eight points apiece. Walker also nabbed eight rebounds in the first-half of play.

Kourtney Berry contributed seven points for the Tars in the first-half.

In a game where offense did not seem to exist each team came out of the break with hot hands. Rollins came roaring back shooting 5-of-9 (55.6%) from the field but Delta State answered shooting 66.7% from the floor and connecting on 5-of-8 (62.5%) free-throws to keep a 36-33 lead with 15:19 remaining.

Rollins separated itself from the Lady Statesmen late in the game going on a 11-2 run to take a 59-50 lead over the green-and-white with 3:43 remaining.

Delta State turned the ball over a combined 16 times on the night while Rollins capitalized off of the green-and-white miscues converting the turnovers into 21 total points in the 69-59 defeat.

Walker led the way posting another double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds in her final game while Ann Shelby Davis followed up with a career –high 12 points. Brooke Rhodes chipped in 10 points connecting on 2-of-3 from behind the arc.

Ashley Jones exploded for the Tars in the second-half shooting 3-of-7 from behind the arc and finished the night with a team-high 21 points while Berry finished with 11 points. Tera McDaniel contributed 10 points in the Tars winning effort.

The Lady Statesmen exit the NCAA DII South Region Tournament without making the Sweet 16 section of the tournament for the first time in six years.