Box Score PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Delta State University women's basketball team picked up where they left off last season as they claimed a 60-50 win over Tuskegee University in their season opener. Delta State improves to 1-0 on the season, while Tuskegee falls to 0-1 on the season.

The Lady Statesmen were coming off a 55-53 exhibition win over NCAA Division I Mississippi Valley State. A lot was riding on this season opener for both teams as Delta State and Tuskegee split their series last season.

Offense was slow to start as the first bucket of the game was scored by Tuskegee almost two minutes into the game. The next basket came at the 15:34 mark by Delta State's Becca Ruckes to tie the game at 2-2. Tuskegee took and held the lead over Delta State soon after until the 12:26 mark when Myeisha Stewart put the Lady Statesmen up by one. Delta State would maintain the lead through the rest of the game. The Green-and-White held their largest margin of the first half with 10 points over Tuskegee on two different occasions at the 2:24 and 1:15 marks. The Lady Statesmen let their lead slip slightly in the last minute as the Tigers went on a 6-0 to go into the half trailing 25-21.

The Green-and-White came out of the locker room firing for the second half as Preseason All-GSC selection Chelsey Rhodes drained a basket from downtown to give Delta State the seven point lead. The Lady Statesmen went on a 6-0 run to open the first two minutes of the second half. 
Delta State gained its largest margin with two minutes remaining in the game as two made free throws from Anissa Jackson put the Lady Statesmen up by 13 over the Tuskegee. Delta State's lead was too much for Tuskegee to overcome as the Lady Statesmen went on to win 60-50 over the Tigers.

Seneca Walton is building on her performance from last season as she recorded a double-double in the season opener with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Becca Ruckes was just shy of her career-high 15 points as she put up 14 boards and 8 rebounds in Delta State's win. Rhandi Ball followed close behind with ten points and eight rebounds of her own, while Chelsey Rhodes scored seven points, as she was 2-8 in field goals, 1-3 from behind the arch, and 2-2 from the line. Myiesha Stewart scored six points, snagged eight rebounds, and blocked two shots against Tuskegee. Mary Carol Davis went 2-3 from field-goal range and 1-2 from three-point range to contribute five points and two blocks. Shanae Govan and Anissa Jackson each scored two points, while Govan also recorded a career-high seven assists.

The Green-and-White shot 23-56 for a 41.1 field-goal percentage and 2-8 from three-point range to shoot 25 percent. The Lady Statesmen were 12-17 at the free-throw line for a 70.6 free-throw percentage. Delta State's defense held Tuskegee to a 31 percent field goal percentage and 27.3 percent shooting percentage from behind the arch.

The Lady Statesmen will hit the court again on Nov. 9 for the second game in the West Florida Tournament. They will take on Lynn University at 12:00 p.m.