GAME NOTES: Lady Statesmen Basketball at NCAA South Region Tournament (3.15-18.13)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University Women's Basketball team will be making its 25th appearance all-time in the NCAA Division II Tournament this week, as the Lady Statesmen travel to Fort Laudersale, Fla., for the NCAA South Region Tournament March 15-18 at the Taft Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University.  DSU will square off with Gulf South Conference foe North Alabama on Friday, March 15 in the First Round.  Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. EST/11 a.m. CST and the game will be broadcast on the Lady Statesmen Sports Network. 

LADY STATESMEN GRAB AT-LARGE BERTH
After falling in the GSC Semifinal 68-57 to Alabama-Huntsville, the Lady Statesmen (19-9) claimed their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament berth with an at-large bid into this week's South Regional in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on the campus of Nova Southeastern University.

The green-and-white are making their 25th appearance all-time in Division II's big dance with an all-time mark of 55-22 (.706). DSU owns GSC records for appearances, wins, NCAA region titles, Elite Eight and Final Four appearances and NCAA National Championships.

NCAA Tournament Appearances:  25*
NCAA Tournament Record:  55-22 (.706)*/NCAA record
Elite Eight Appearances:  13*
Final Four Appearances:  9*
Championships:  Six/(Three NCAA/Three AIAW titles)*
Last Appearance:  2011-2012/NCAA South Region Semifinal

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 25 NCAA regionals with an all-time record of 55-22 (.706). 

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.

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 1,040-254-3 record.  The Lady Statesmen also hold the GSC record for all-time wins with a 675-139 mark.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Lady Statesmen are 0-1 this season against ranked opponents, dropping a 68-51 decision to No. 1 ranked Clayton State on Nov. 16, 2012 at the Union University Tournament.  Delta State is 4-4 (.500) against teams ranked in the NCAA regional rankings.  

LITTLE TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
The Lady Statesmen feature one of the youngest lineups at this year's event with one senior, a junior, two sophomores and a true freshman in the starting lineup.  The unit has led DSU to the league's second ranked scoring offense (65.0 ppg) and second best scoring defense (55.1 ppg).  The unit has a total of three players with five career postseason games under their belts.

DSU ENTERS NCAA TOURNAMENT 3RD IN SOUTH REGION
The Lady Statesmen enter the NCAA South Region Tournament ranked third in the NCAA South Region Poll. 

BALL APPROACHING 500-POINT MARK
Sophomore small forward Rhandi Ball, the 2011-2012 GSC Freshman of the Year, is approaching the 500 career point plateau as the Lady Statesmen the last two games of the regular season. 

The Pontotoc, Miss., native has scored 498 points to date, averaging 8.1 points per game.  This season, Ball ranks third on the team with a 11.6 points per game average and is second on the team in rebounding at 7.4 boards per game.  She has doubled her offensive output from a year ago where she averaged 5.9 points per game.  

WALTON POWERING LADY STATESMEN SUCCESS; BREAKS 500-POINT MARK
Sophomore center Seneca Walton has been a major catalyst for the success of the Lady Statesmen this season.  The Clarksdale, Miss., native is averaging 13.1 points, currently eighth in the GSC, and 7.9 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the league. 

Walton's ability to score around the basket is an almost unstoppable force in the GSC, where she is currently third in field goal percentage at 49.5 percent on 137-of-273 attempts.  She is also second in the GSC in blocked shots per game at 1.81 with 47 in 24 games.

Walton is also bearing down on the 500-point mark for her career.  In 56 career games, Walton has scored 504 points for an 8.8 points per game average. 

RHODES PROVING FRESHMAN IS JUST A TAG
Chelsey Rhodes is proving to the GSC that the term freshman is just a tag.  The Monticello, Ark., native is currently averaging 12.1 points per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field on 101-of-226 attempts. 

Rhodes is currently third in the GSC in free throw percentage (79.8) and 3-point field goal percentage (39.3).  She seventh in field goal percentage (44.7) and her 42 made 3-pointers are fifth in the league.

DEFENSE DRIVES CHAMPIONSHIPS
DSU has historically been a dominant defensive basketball team and coach David Midlick has carried on the tradition laid before him by Margaret Wade, Lloyd Clark and Sandra Rushing. 

Coach Midlick and the Lady Statesmen are once again setting the standard for defense in the Gulf South Conference, allowing the league's second fewest points per game at 55.9 per game.  DSU ranks 22nd in the nation in scoring defense and 36th in field goal percentage defense.     

YEAR NCAA RANK SCORING DEFENSE
2012-13 22nd 55.9
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

SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Lady Statesmen enter the final week of the regular season ranked second in the GSC in scoring at 65.0 points per game, while leading the league in scoring margin +9.1 points per game. 

TWO-HEADED MONSTER ON THE DISH
DSU ranks second in the GSC in scoring per game (65.0) thanks in large part to unselfish play.  While DSU leads the league in assists with 347 or 12.6 per game, the Lady Statesmen enter the last week of the regular season with two players ranked in the top 10 in assists per game.

Rhandi Ball leads the team with 2.69 assists per game and ranks seventh in the GSC followed by  Brittany Roberts (10th/2.5).

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. 

WALTON FINALIST FOR C-SPIRE GILLOM TROPHY
Sophomore center Seneca Walton, who is one of eight finalists for the C-Spire Wireless Gillom Trophy, will try to follow in the footsteps of Lady Statesmen greats Jennifer Rushing and Veronica Walker on Monday, March 11 when the annual award is presented to the state of Mississippi's top collegiate women's basketball player.  Rushing was the Gillom Trophy's first recipient in 2005 with Walker taking home the honor last season.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Seneca Walton and Rhandi Ball have combined for 14 double-doubles on the year for the Lady Statesmen. The dynamic duo recorded two a piece against NCAA South Region opening round foe Alabama-Huntsville.

Ball recorded her last double-double against the Lady Chargers on March 8, in a 68-57 loss during the GSC Tournament posting 25 points and 12 rebounds. Walton also posted a double-double in that contest with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

LADY STATESMEN SEEK 8TH CONSECUTIVE 20 WIN SEASON
The Lady Statesmen (19-9) are looking to extend their seven consecutive 20+ game win streak to eight in the NCAA South Regional Tournament.

The last time the Green-and-White failed to achieve a 20 win season was during the 2003-04 season under former Lady Statesmen head coach Sandra Rushing in her second year.

CLOSING OUT IS KEY
If the Lady Statesmen are to have success at the NCAA South Region Tournament they are going to have to gain separation from the opponent and close out games. During the 2012-13 season the Green-and-White hold a 3-5 record when there is a five point differential between the scores.

Of the five loses, two were buzzer beaters coming from the University of North Alabama on a last-second three-pointer heave to win a 58-57 thrillers and also a 63-61 defeat to the University of West Alabama on a last second layup. Three of the close losses have come from South Region Tournament foes.

THE LONE SENIOR
Brittany Roberts is the only senior on this years squad and plays a key role in the Lady Statesmen's success.

The talented guard is the primary ball handler for head coach David Midlick's squad and directs the Green-and-White offense. Roberts is tallying 6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 2.5 assists per game coming into the NCAA South Region Tournament.

BALL & WALTON NAMED ALL-GSC; RHODES FRESHMAN HONORS
Rhandi Ball earned first team All-Gulf South Conference honors this averaging 11.6 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game during her sophomore campaign. Ball came into the season eagerly to build off of her successful freshman year where she earned GSC freshman of the year honors.

Walton garnered All-GSC second team honors during her sophomore season posting 13.1 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game and 1.7 blocks per game. The talented forward is a tactician in the paint area for the Lady Statesmen.

Chelsey Rhodes stepped into the Lady Statesmen program ready to contribute and has done so by following Ball's footsteps and earning GSC freshman of the year honors. The sharpshooting guard is averaging 12.1 points per game  and 1.4 assists per game.