Box Score

CLEVELAND, Miss. – Defense was the story Saturday, Jan. 18 at Sillers Coliseum as the No. 9 Delta State University Women's Basketball team claimed a 57-51 victory over Union University.  The Lady Statesmen (13-1, 8-0 GSC) held the Lady Bulldogs (10-4, 5-3 GSC) to 30.2 percent from the floor and 18 points below their season average of 69.0 per game.

The victory opens up a three-game lead for the Lady Statesmen in the Gulf South Conference standings.  West Florida (5-3), Union (5-3) and Alabama-Huntsville (4-3) currently trail DSU.  

"Great effort by our ladies today and our defensive intensity was a major factor in the win," DSU head coach David Midlick said. "Seneca Walton played aggressively and her performance inside the paint was a key for us."

Neither team could find an offense in the first half, as the Lady Statesmen and Lady Bulldogs went into the locker room tied at 18-18.  DSU made just 8-of-25 (32.0 percent) field goal attempts in the first, while UU hit on 6-of-21 (28.6 percent).

Walton led all scorers and the Lady Statesmen at the break with 11 points and six rebounds. Astrid Huttemann led UU with five points.

With Latesa McLaughlin's layup tying the game at 41-41 with 7:10 remaining for Union, David Midlick's Lady Statesmen bunkered down defensively, holding UU to just 10 points down the stretch to claim a 57-51 victory.

DSU closed the game on a 20-12 run after making eight of their last 10 shots from the field. UU was just 2-of-6 from the field and 0-of-3 from 3-point range.

Walton's effort in the final 6:10 was the difference, as the junior from Clarksdale, Miss., scored seven points and cleared six rebounds en route to her eighth double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds.

Chelsey Rhodes finished with 11 points and three free throws in the final minutes of the game to help preserve the win.  The sophomore from Monticello, Ark., pulled down three rebounds and handed out four assists. 

Rhandi Ball had nine points and seven boards.  Anissa Jackson had five with Shanae Govan finishing with four points and five rebounds. 

Huttemann led all Lady Bulldogs with 14 points.  McLaughlin added 13 points with Amy Philamlee scoring 10.

The Lady Statesmen were 46.9 percent from the field, but struggled from 3-point range and the free throw line.  DSU made just 1-of-9 3-pointers and 10-of-19 free throws. 

Union fared no better, making 30.2 percent (16-of-53) from the floor and 20 percent (5-of-25) from 3-point range.  The Lady Bulldogs did connect on 93.3 percent from the line after hitting on 14-of-15 attempts. 

Behind Walton's 26 points, the Lady Statesmen owned the paint, outscoring Union 36-22 and 13-5 on second chance points.  DSU also out-rebounded UU 36-31 and won the turnover war 15-14.  

The Lady Statesmen face a long road trip next week with stops at Valdosta State and West Florida.  Thursday's game at VSU is set for a 5 p.m. tip off at The Coliseum.  DSU will end the week on Saturday in Pensacola, Fla., versus the Argonauts. Game time is set for 2 p.m.  Both games will be carried on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning 15 minutes prior to tipoff.  Philip Tang will have the call.