GAME NOTES: Delta State University at Christian Brothers (12.14.13)
CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Lady Statesmen (5-1) of Delta State University will travel to Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, Dec. 14 to face the Lady Bucs (4-2) of Christian Brothers University. This matchup marks the opening of Gulf South Conference play for both squads.
IN THE PAINT
The Lady Statesmen of Delta State University enter the matchup up with the Lady Bucs of Christian Brothers leading the series 35-2. This marks the 38th meeting all time between the two squads.
Delta State has only lost to Christian Brothers twice in program history with the only two losses coming in 1997 under Lloyd Clark and 2004 under Sandra Rushing both at Canale Arena in Memphis.
DSU enters the matchup 5-1 on the season, while CBU is 4-2 overall. This matchup opens Gulf South Conference play.
Christian Brothers is coming off an 89-49 win over LeMoyne Owen on Dec. 2 They were led by Madison Luckett with 17 points and 8 rebounds and Taylor Pugh with a double-double, 15 points and 10 boards.
Delta State is coming off an 86-59 win over Paine College on Monday, Dec. 2.
Seneca Walton has surpassed two milestones early into her junior season. She eclipsed 600-career points against Stillman College and 400 rebounds against Belhaven University.
Rhandi Ball has also reached two career milestones just six games into the season. Ball reached 400-career rebounds against Stillman and 600 career points against Paine College.
Chelsey Rhodes has reached career milestone 400-career points in just her second season.
As a team, Delta State leads NCAA Division II women's basketball in field goal percentage defense, holding its opponents to a 27.5 field goal percentage.
DSU ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense, holding its opponents to 49.4 points per game. Ranking sixth in rebound margin, the Green-and-White outrebounds their opponents by 16.2 rebounds.
Sophomore Becca Ruckes ranks third in Division II in field goal percentage, going 25-of-35 from the field for a 71.4 field goal percentage.
Head coach David Midlick continues to produce for his team. He is 26-11 overall as he is in his second year with Delta State. Midlick led his team to a 13-5 Gulf South Conference record last season, which was enough to claim the GSC Regular Season Title.
The Lady Statesmen, recently ranked No. 15, jumped up to a No. 12 ranking in USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll after their win over Paine College.
Inside the Series
Delta State leads the series with Christian Brothers 35-2. The only two losses were suffered on the road in Memphis in 1997 under Lloyd Clark and in 2004 under Sandra Rushing.
The Lady Statesmen defeated the Lady Bucs twice last season. The first victory came on Dec. 1, 2012 at Walter Sillers with Delta State winning 60-50. Seneca Walton led DSU with 16 points and six rebounds. Breanna Ridgell led Christian Brothers with 17 points and seven rebounds. DSU shot 42.6 percent from the field and held CBU to a 32.6 field goal percentage.
The second Delta State victory came on Feb. 2, 2013 at Canale Arena in Memphis, Tenn., and saw the Lady Statesmen edging the Lady Bucs 54-45. Rhandi Ball led the Green-and-White way with a double double, recording 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Ridgell led Christian Brothers with 18 points and eight rebounds. DSU shot 39.6 percent from the field and held CBU to a 42.2 shooting percentage.
Previous Performances
The Delta State University Lady Statesmen traveled to Augusta, Ga., on Monday, Dec. 2 to face the Lions of Paine College. DSU stole an 86-59 win over the Lions to improve to 5-1 on the season. Rhandi Ball led the way for Delta State with 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and one steal. Chelsey Rhodes and Becca Ruckes added 15 points and two rebounds, while Seneca Walton contributed 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Senior guard Shanae Govan scored a career-high nine points in the win over Paine. The Green-and-White shot 52.7 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from downtown, and 85.7 percent from the charity line. The Delta defense held Paine to a 40.0 percent field goal percentage and 35.3 three-point percentage.
The Lady Bucs of Christian Brothers University are coming off an 89-49 win at Canale Arena over LeMoyne-Owen on Monday, Dec. 2 to improve to 4-2 on the season. CBU led LeMoyne-Owen at the half 45-18. Madison Luckett led the way for the Lady Bucs as she recorded 17 points and eight boards. Taylor Pugh added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Samantha Reeves and Breanna Ridgell contributed 13 points each, with Reeves grabbing six rebounds and Ridgell bringing down two. The Lady Bucs shot 48.5 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from long range, and 59.5 percent from the free throw line. CBU's defense held LeMoyne-Owen to a slim 20.3 percent field goal percentage and a 14.3 three-point percentage.
DSU Dominates GSC
Just six games into the season, the Lady Statesmen are proving that they deserve the preseason number one pick. As a team, Delta State leads the GSC in scoring defense (51.0 ppg), field goal percentage defense (29.5 percent), rebounding defense (31.0 rpg), and defensive rebounds (31.2 rpg). The Green-and-White rank second in field goal percentage with 45.3 percent.
Several Lady Statesmen have earned top spots in the GSC rankings. Three rank in the top 20 in scoring for points per game. Becca Ruckes is currently ranked ninth with 13.5 points per game. Seneca Walton sits at eleventh with 13.2 points per game, and Rhandi Ball ranks nineteenth with 10.8 points per game. Walton leads the GSC in rebounding with 9.7 rebounds per game with the next closest player averaging 8.5 rebounds per game. Shanae Govan holds the number two spot for assists with 5.2 assists per game and the six spot for steals with 3.0 steals per game.
Triple Threat Meeting Milestones
Seneca Walton, a center out of Clarksdale, Miss., has surpassed two milestones early into her junior season. She eclipsed 600 career points against Stillman College and 400 rebounds against Belhaven University. Head coach David Midlick said, "Seneca has done a great job for us in both scoring and rebounding as the milestones reflect. We count on her to be a low post presence and to get big rebounds for us, and she delivers for the team." Walton currently sits at 614 career points and 415 career rebounds.
A junior forward and native of Pontotoc, Miss., Rhandi Ball has also reached two career milestones just six games into the season. Ball reached 400 career rebounds against Stillman and 600 career points against Paine College. "Rhandi not only scores and rebounds for us, but she often draws a tough defensive assignment. She plays both on the inside and outside and has done a great job for the team so far this year," Midlick added. She sits at 604 career points and 411 career rebounds.
Sophomore sensation, Chelsey Rhodes, has reached career milestone 400-career points in just her second season. Midlick said, "Chelsey has scored since the first game of her freshman year. She has 3-point range and is able to go to the basket or pull up for a jump shot. She works hard every day in practice to expand her game." She currently has 407 career points.
Offense Off the Bench
Myiesha Stewart, Kenisha Henry, Becca Ruckes, and Anissa Jackson have played in all six games this season off the bench for Delta State and have contributed to the success of the team. Of the six players coming off the bench for the Lady Statesmen, they recorded 97 of the total 426 points scored by Delta State this season.
Stewart receives quality playing time as a post and is averaging 4.5 rebounds per game and 4.3 points per game under the basket.
Henry only averages 8.8 minutes per game but makes her presence known, as she has contributed eleven assists, six steals and quality defense this season.
Ruckes is a force to be reckoned with under the net, as she leads the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game and ranks third in the country in field goal percentage with 71.4 percent.
Anissa Jackson is proving that freshman is just a title. Jackson comes off the bench firing every time she enters a game, as she averages 5.8 points per game and has recorded nine assists and thirteen steals in just six games, while averaging 22.2 minutes per game.
