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Delta State Lady Statesmen vs UWA/UWG (2.21-23.13)

Cleveland, Miss. - The Lady Statesmen (15-7, 8-4 GSC) of Delta State University hit the road for the final time in the regular season this week. DSU travels to Livingston, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 21 to take on the West Alabama Tigers. DSU will then make the trip to Georgia to for date with the University of West Georgia Wolves on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Lady Statesmen knocked off UWA 58-32, and held on for a 65-54 victory over the UWG, earlier this season. The 32 points allowed agaisnt UWA were the lowest total allowed by DSU since holding West Georgia to 31 in a 67-31 win on December 4, 2010

QUICK SCREENS

Delta State, who owns the league record with 15 conference championships, continues league play with an amazing 674-136 GSC record.

Delta State enters this week second in the GSC in scoring at 65.4 points per game and boast the second best field goal percentage
with a 40.9 average. The Lady Statesmen have topped 90 points twice, including wins over Selma (99-37) and Stillman (90-54).

The Lady Statesmen have been a defense-first program for the last 10 years and coach Midlick has kept the tradition rolling this season, as DSU is allowing opponents 55.1 points per game, which leads in the GSC.

Freshman guard Chelsey Rhodes is making an immediate impact on the Lady Statesmen this season. The Monticello, Ark., native is
averaging 11.7points per game, which is good for 11th in the GSC. She also leads the GSC in 3-point FG% at 42.7 percent on 38-of-89 3-pointers made. Rhodes had two of her best games last week versus Shorter and UAH, as she posted 16 and 17 points respectively

Junior guard Brooke Rhodes has turned her scoring average up in GSC play, as the Pelahatchie, Miss., native is averaging 9.0 points per game, which ranks 20th in the GSC. She is also pulling down a career-high 5.1 rebounds per game for the Lady Statesmen.

Sophomore center Seneca Walton leads the Lady Statesmen in scoring (13.5) and rebounds (8.1) per game this season. The Clarksdale, Miss., native is currently eighth in the GSC in scoring and fourth in rebounding, including a 23 rebound performance versus West Alabama on Jan. 17, which was the third most in DSU history in a GSC game.

Sophomore forward Rhandi Ball has become a major scoring threat for DSU this season. The Ponotoc, Miss., native, who was named the GSC Freshman of the Year last season, is averaging a career-high 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this year. Ball scored a career high 21 points in the 52-48 win over Valdosta State. In GSC play, Ball is averaging 11.8 points and 8.4 boards per contest.

ON THE AIR

This week's games with West Alabama and West Georgia will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network. Air time is 15 minutes prior to tipoff with the DSU Alumni Association Tipoff Report. Eric Gallo and Herb Brooks will have the call.

UP NEXT

Delta State returns home for the final two GSC contests of the season, as the University of West Florida and Valdosta State University travel to Walter Sillers Coliseum. The Lady Statesmen gave UWF its first Gulf South Converence victory with a 66-51 loss on January 24. The Lady Statsemen outscored Valdosta State 33-23 in the second half, for a 52-48 victory over the Lady Blazers on January 26. Both games will be carried live on the Statesmen Sports Network.

LADY STATESMEN READY FOR FINAL ROAD SWING

The Lady Statesmen hit the road for the final time in the regular season this week. DSU travels to Livingston, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 21 to take on the West Alabama Tigers. DSU will then make the trip to Georgia to for date with the University of West Georgia Wolves on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Lady Statesmen knocked off UWA 58-32, and held on for a 65-54 victory over the UWG, earlier this season. The 32 points allowed agaisnt UWA were the lowest total allowed by DSU since holding West Georgia to 31 in a 67-31 win on December 4, 2010.

TIGERS STRUGGLING WITH INJURIES

The West Alabama Tigers have had three players miss a combined 15 games this season. Leading scorer Nikkia Jordan has missed ninevgames, while post player and second leading scorer Brittany Weathers has missed three games. Another down low force for the Tigers, Jamie Gunter has missed three games as well. UWA has lost 9 of its last 11, but picked up a big 73-66 victory over Valdosta State on Feb. 16.

WOLVES MARCHING TOWARDS POSTSEASON

The University of West Georgia Wolves are well on the way to advancing to its first NCAA Tournament since former coach Craig Roden took his team to the second round in 2008, where the Wolves fell 58-43 to DSU. The Coliseum has been one of the most difficult road venues in the Gulf South Conference this season, as the Wolves are 10-2 overall, and 4-0 in GSC play inside the friendly confines.

A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK'S LADY STATESMEN RESULTS

The Delta State University Lady Statesmen basketball team posteda 2-0 mark last week, picking up wins against Shorter and Alabama Huntsville. The DSU offense got back on the right track, after having not scored more than 54 points in the previous five games. The Green-and-White defeated Shorter 65-44, and outscored UAH 45-28 in the second half to win 83-60. The 83 points were the most DSU has scored since a 90-54 victory over Stillman College on November 23. Rhandi Ball had a first half double-double in the victory over the Lady Hawks, with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Ball finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds. Seneca Walton also posted her sixth double-double of the season, as she finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Chelsey Rhodes led the way with 16 points, while Chadisty Hickman had a career best 13 off the bench.The Lady Statesmen forced 24 turnovers in the victory over UAH,including 14 in the first half. The DSU defense did not let up in the second half, as it held the Chargers scoreless from the floor for a 6:26 span. The Green-and-White took control of the game with a 17-5 run during the UAH field goal drought. Seneca Walton posted a career best 27 points, while Chelsey Rhodes (17), Rhandi Ball (14) and Brittany Roberts (10) also scored double figures for DSU. Ball also had 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double.

WAVES AND WAVES AND WAVES

Through the first 20 games, the Lady Statesmen have six players
averaging 20+ minutes per game and nine totaling 10+ minutes per
contest. Brooke Rhodes (30.6) and Chelsey Rhodes (28.0) lead the
way the Green-and-White in minutes played this season.

SMOTHERING DEFENSE

The Lady Statesmen have been a defense first program for the last 10 years and coach Midlick has kept the tradition rolling this season, as DSU leads the GSC, allowing opponents just 55.1 points per game.The Lady Statesmen allow opponents 53.6 per contest in GSC play, including a 35.4 percent clip from the floor.

WALTON DEVELOPING INTO DOMINANT POST

Sophomore center Seneca Walton leads the Lady Statesmen in scoring (13.5) and rebounds (8.1) per game through 20 games this season.The Clarksdale, Miss., native is currently eighth in the GSC in scoring and fourth in rebounding. The former Clarksdale Lady Wildcat is tied for third in the GSC with six double-doubles. In the 58-32 victory over the West Alabama on Jan. 17, Walton scored 15 points and pulled down a career high 23 rebounds. The 23 rebounds are the third most in DSU history in a GSC game. Walton scored a career high 27 points in DSU's 83-60 win over UAH on 2.16.13, where she also had a career best five blocks.

BETTER PROTECT THE BALL

The Lady Statesmen enter the contests with UWA and UWG leading the GSC in steals per game (10.8) DSU has swiped 238
steals in 22 games.

COOKING LIKE THE FOOD NETWORK

The Lady Statesmen have “dished” out some quality stats this season, averaging 13.4 assists per game thanks in part to Rhandi Ball, Shanae Govan and Brittany Roberts. Ball and Govan are tied for seventh with 2.9 assists per game, while Roberts ranks ninth at 2.5 per game.Their efforts have put the Lady Statesmen atop the assists per game category.    

TWO DIFFICULT RHODES

Junior All-GSC guard Brooke Rhodes (9.0 ppg/5.1 rbg) and freshman guard Chelsey Rhodes (11.7 ppg/2.1 rpg) combine to form
one of the top backcourts in all of the GSC. The duo accounts for 20.7 points per night for coach Midlick and the Lady Statesmen
offense, which ranks No. 2 in scoring in the GSC.

3-BALL

Delta State has used the 3-point shot to ints advantage this season, averaging 65.4 points per game, which is second best in the league. The Lady Statesmen rank third in the GSC in 3-point FG percentage as well at 31.8 percent. DSU has connected on
91-of-286 3-point attempts this season.

LADY STATESMEN PICKED 4TH IN GSC COACHES POLL

Delta State found itself in unfamiliar territory, as the Lady Statesmen were picked fourth in the annual Preseason Gulf South Conference Coaches' Poll. DSU has not been picked lower than second in any preseason league poll since the 2003-04
season.UAH claimed five first-place votes and two second-place votes, a total of 47 points, as it was the choice as the GSC's top team in the preseason voting poll done by the conference's head coaches. Last year's surprise GSC Champions, West Alabama,
finished with a total of 42 points, three first-place votes and three second-place votes, while Valdosta State rounds out the
Top 3 with a total of 35 points. After a 22-7 season, including a 12-2 GSC record, Delta State is ranked fourth with 33 total points. North Alabama completes the top five with 26 points.

LADY STATESMEN, NOT FIGHTING OKRA

Despite some rowdy student objections, athletic programs at Delta State University do not use the student-chosen submascot,
Fighting Okra. The Fighting Okra, the most vicious of all vegetables, was created by a band of students at DSU in the late
1980's and early 1990's. While some on campus embrace the scary veggie, DSU Athletics does not. Our programs have always been, and will continue to be the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen. If you have a problem with that, take it up with the vegetable in the corner with boxing gloves.

HISTORIC WALTER SILLERS COLISEUM

The Lady Statesmen begin their 38th season inside the historic confines of Walter Sillers Coliseum. The parquet floor has seen
15 Gulf South Conference championships, three NCAA National Championships and 24 NCAA Tournament teams during its
tenure as the home of the Green-and-White. The 4,000-seat arena offers fans a panoramic view from two different levels, including more than 1,000 chair-back seats in the mezzanine level. During the spring of 1997 the bleachers on the lower east level were replaced with luxury seats for fans and lowered almost to floor level in 1999. The famed floor that so many DSU greats played on was replaced by a state of the art parquet floor following the 1998 season.