Box Score

CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University Women's basketball team clinched their second-straight Gulf South Conference regular season title and the top-seed at the upcoming GSC Tournament with a 77-63 victory over Valdosta State University (16-10, 9-9 GSC) on Senior Day Saturday, March 2 at Walter Sillers Coliseum.  The Lady Statesmen (18-8, 13-5 GSC) will face the University of West Florida in Thursday's first round at The Hanna Center in Birmingham, Ala.

After taking a 34-28 lead into the locker room at halftime, the Lady Statesmen used tenacious second half defense Saturday to roll to the 14-point win.  DSU forced 28 VSU turnovers, including 11 in the second half, that turned into 33 Delta State points.  DSU shot 45.1 percent for the game on 23-of-51 attempts from the field and was 30-of-34 from the free throw line. 

Chelsey Rhodes, who was 13-of-13 at the free throw line, scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Lady Statesmen, while Seneca Walton scored 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds.  DSU's lone senior Brittany Roberts added 15 points. 

Rhandi Ball chipped in with eight points and six steals.  Chadisty Hickman was big on the boards for coach Midlick with six rebounds and three assists. 

The Lady Blazers connected on 19-of-44 shots from the floor for 43.2 percent, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range.  VSU was also 19-of-23 from the free throw line.  VSU outrebounded DSU 30-26, but the game hinged on the Lady Blazers inability to protect the basketball.

Brittany Nelson led the Lady Blazers with 18 points and nine rebounds.  Courtney Sprague added 11 with Kourtnee Williams and Kamyla Smith scoring 10 points each.

The first half was a closely contested affair, as DSU took a 34-28 lead into the locker room.  Both teams shot over 50-percent from the floor, as DSU connected on 52 percent (13-of-25) and VSU 50 percent (10-of-20). 

The Lady Blazers cut the lead to two points twice, but never took the lead. 

Rhodes had 12 points at the half to pace DSU.  Nelson had seven to lead VSU.

Delta State will begin postseason play on March 7-10 at the 2013 Raymond James Gulf South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., on the campus of Samford University. 

The Lady Statesmen will face the University of West Florida in the first round on Thursday at a yet to be determined time.

The GSC's annual classic will be played inside the Pete Hanna Center, a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat basketball and multi-purpose arena.  All games at the GSC Tournament will be broadcast on the Lady Statesmen Sports Network with Matt Jones, J.T. Webb and Herb Brookson the call.