Box Score CLEVELAND, Miss. – Senior point guard Shanae Govan scored 10 points and tied a career-high with nine assists to lead the No. 11 Delta State University women's basketball team to a 64-48 victory over Shorter University Monday, Jan. 6 at Walter Sillers Coliseum.  The Lady Statesmen improved to 10-1 on the season and 5-0 in Gulf South Conference play, while the Lady Hawks slipped to 4-7 and 2-3 in league action.

"Proud of the effort we put out there today," DSU head coach David Midlick said.  "We played well enough to defend the home court.  Shanae Govan directed our offense and we made the stops we had to down the stretch."  

Shorter jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the opening moments of the game on a 3-pointer by Boykin and back-to-back baskets by Nash.  DSU finally got untracked, but did not capture the lead until Becca Ruckes canned a layup for a 16-14 lead.

After Shorter tied it at 18-18 tie with 6:15 to go in the first half, Delta State put the clamps down and closed the frame on a 14-7 run for a 32-24 halftime lead.

DSU shot 51.6 percent (16-of-31) in the half, while SU connected on 41.7 percent (10-of-24).  The Lady Statesmen held the edge in the paint, 20-14, and scored 10 points off the Lady Hawks' nine turnovers. 

Govan led the Lady Statesmen with 10 points and four assists at the half.  Karisma Boykin and Kristin Nash each had seven points for the Lady Hawks.

The second half saw the Lady Hawks make a game of it after the Lady Statesmen had built a 17-point lead, 41-24, with 16:43 to play.  Over the next 8:16, the Lady Hawks went on 15-5 run to cut the lead to five, 44-39 at the 10:00 mark of the second half. 

DSU finally quelled the threat on Chadisty Hickman's 26-footer to put the Lady Statesmen back up eight, 47-39, with 9:31 to go.

Over the next eight minutes, the Lady Statesmen would outscore the Lady Hawks 20-9 to seal the 16-point, 64-48, victory.

DSU finished the game shooting 47.5 percent from the floor on 29-of-61 shots, while SU hit on just 36.2 percent from the field after making 17-of-47 attempts.  The Lady Statesmen also out-rebounded 44-26 and outscored the Lady Hawks in the paint 38-22.

The Lady Statesmen placed three players in double figures, led by Chelsey Rhodes' game-high 18 points.  Becca Ruckes added 12 points off the bench.

Rhandi Ball contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  The Pontotoc, Miss., native also dished out six assists.

Nash led three Lady Hawks in double figures with 16 points. Boykin finished with 11 points and Lynette Harris scored 10. 

Delta State hits the road for its first-ever meeting on the hardwood with Lee University on Thursday, Jan. 9.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET at Walker Arena in Cleveland, Tenn.  Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning at 5:45 p.m. ET with the "DSU Alumni Association Game Day Report."