GAME NOTES: Delta State University Lady Statesmen (18-8) at Gulf South Conference Tournament (3.7-10.13)
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Lady Statesmen (18-8, 13-5 GSC) of Delta State University will be looking to for their 16th Gulf South Conference Championship this Thursday, March 7 through Sunday, March 10 at The Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.  DSU, which boast 15 league titles, has 11 more than the next closest league member. 

Delta State, which enters the event as the No. 1 seed, opens up the 2013 Gulf South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, presented by Raymond James Investments, with No. 8 seed University of West Florida on Thursday, March 7 at 12:00 p.m.  The game marks the third meeting this season between the two teams with the Lady Statesmen taking both contests.  DSU leads the all-time series 11-3.  The Lady Statesmen are 9-5 versus the field at this year's event and hold an all-time record of 206-27 against the other seven participants.

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.

Super sophomores Seneca Walton and Rhadi Ball have been a driving force for the Lady Statesmen this season.  Walton, a 6-foot-1 center, leads Delta State in scoring and rebounding (8.0), while Ball, a 6-foot small forward, is averaging career-highs in points (10.7), rebounds (7.5) and assists (2.8).

Freshman sensation Chelsey Rhodes has made an immediate impact for the Lady Statesmen this season.  The 5-foot-7 shooting guard is averaging 11.4 points per game and ranks third in the GSC in 3-point FG percentage and free throw percentage.

DSU is the only school in NCAA DII history to top 1,000 wins, as the Lady Statesmen boast a 1,042-254-3 record.  The Lady Statesmen also hold the GSC record for all-time wins with a 677-139 mark.

One of the nation's most successful women's programs, Delta State holds Gulf South Conference records for GSC titles (15),  NCAA postseason appearances (25), victories (55), Elite Eight appearances (13), Final Four berths (9) and NCAA/AIAW National Championships (6).  The Lady Statesmen's 55 NCAA Tournament wins are also a Division II record.     

ON THE AIR
This week's games at the Gulf South Conference Tournament, presented by Raymond James Investments, will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network. Air time is 15 minutes prior to tipoff with the DSU Alumni Association Tipoff Report.  Matt Jones, J.T. Webb and Herb Brooks will have the call.  The games are also video streamed on www.GSCsports.com.  

UP NEXT
DSU will await word from the NCAA Division II Basketball Championship Selection Committee on whether the Lady Statesmen will participate in the NCAA South Region Tournament to be held March 14-19 at a yet to be determined campus location.

LADY STATESMEN SEEKING 16th GSC CROWN
Delta State will be looking for its 16th Gulf South Conference Championship this Thursday, March 7 through Sunday, March 10 at The Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University. 

The Lady Statesmen boast 15 league titles are 11 more than the next closest league member. Arkansas Tech, who is noi longer in the GSC, had four with Valdosta State and West Georgia having two each.

This year's GSC Tournament promises to offer some of the top teams in the NCAA South Region and three teams with at least 19 wins on the season.  The winner of this season's title will have an excellent shot at hosting the NCAA South Region Tournament on March 9-12 at a college campus near you. 

Year  Opponent  Result
1983  Valdosta State  L, 83-85
1986  Valdosta State  W, 87-69
1987  West Alabama  W, 93-53
1988  Jacksonville State  W, 98-69
1989  West Georgia  W, 77-72 OT
1992  West Georgia  L, 52-64
1993  Jacksonville State  L, 65-67
1995  Mississippi College  W, 86-64
1996  Central Arkansas  W, 86-68
1997  Valdosta State  W, 76-53
1999  Arkansas Tech  W, 63-59
2000  Arkansas Tech  W, 70-66
2001  Arkansas Tech  W, 60-52
2002  Arkansas Tech  W, 53-47
2004  Henderson State  L, 52-53 OT
2006  Henderson State  W, 64-53
2007  Arkansas Tech  W, 66-59
2008  Arkansas Tech  W, 80-61
2009  Arkansas-Monticello  W, 53-51 OT
2010  Arkansas Tech  L, 73-75 2OT
2011 Arkansas Tech L, 62-73

LADY STATESMEN OWN GSC TOURNAMENT RECORD BOOK
The Lady Statesmen will be making their 25th appearance in the GSC Tournament, boasting a league best 15 championships and an all-time mark of 50-10 in GSC postseason play. DSU has appeared in a record 23 semifinals and 21 finals. DSU's 15 championships are 11 more than any other GSC school. 

GSC Tournament Appearances:  25*
GSC Tournament Record:  50-10 (.833)*
Semifinal Appearnaces:  23*
Finals Appearances:  21*
Last Finals Appearance:  2010-11/ATU 73-DSU 62
GSC Championships:  15*
Last Title:  2008-09/DSU 53 - UAM 51 (OT)

WELCOME TO THE HANNA CENTER
The Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University will serve as the site for this year's Gulf South Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championship Tournaments March 7-10 in Birmingham, Ala.  The state-of-the-art 5,000 seat multi-purpose arena is the home of the Samford Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs basketball and volleyball teams.  The venue is also used for Samford's commencement exercises and other local arts and music events. 

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 24 NCAA regionals with an all-time record of 55-22 (.714). 

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.

NEW VENUE LEADS TO GSC CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESSES
The Lady Statesmen have experienced a high level of success every time the Gulf South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament has changed locations/venues. 

Delta State claimed the first GSC title played at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Miss., back in 2001-2002 and the first at the Desoto Civic Center in Southaven, Miss., in the 2005-2006 campaign.

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.  

BALL, WALTON, RHODES RECIEVE POSTSEASON GSC HONORS
Sophomore forwards Rhandi Ball (1st Team) and Seneca Walton (2nd Team) were named to the 2012-13 Gulf South Conference All-GSC Teams on Wednesday.  Ball averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while Walton led the Lady Statesmen with 13.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Chelsey Rhodes, a 5-foot-7 guard, became the second-straight Lady Statesmen to capture the GSC's Freshman of the Year Award.  The Monticello, Ark., native averages 12.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.  

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 GSC TOURNAMENT 3RD IN SOUTH REGION
The Lady Statesmen enter the Gulf South Conference Tournament ranked third in the NCAA South Region Poll.  The top eight teams from tne region will advance to next week's NCAA South Region Tournament to held on a yet to be determined campus site.

RANK TEAM IN-REGION DII
1 Nova Southeastern 15-6 16-6
2 Tuskegee 18-4 18-4
3 Delta State 14-8 15-8
4 Lynn 13-7 14-7
5 Florida Tech 14-8 14-8
6 North Alabama 15-9 15-9
7 Valdosta State 14-9 14-9
8 Rollins 9-8 12-8
9 West Georgia 11-9 11-9
10 Eckerd 11-8 11-9

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.    

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 55.4 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 55.4
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 +9.8 points per game. 

WALTON POWERING LADY STATESMEN SUCCESS; NEARING 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 13.6 points, currently eighth in the GSC, and 8.0 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 50.2 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 54 career games, Walton has scored 489 points for an 8.8 points per game average. 

THREE-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 330 or 12.6 per game, the Lady Statesmen enter the last week of the regular season with three 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 Shanae Govan (8th/2.50) and Brittany Roberts (10th/2.42).

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 Ponotoc, Miss., native has scored 447 points to date, averaging 8.1 points per game.  This season, Ball ranks third on the team with a 10.6 points per game average and is second on the team in rebounding at 7.3 boards per game.  She has doubled her offensive output from a year ago where she averaged 5.9 points per game.  

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.

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.