CLEVEALAND, Mississippi – The University of West Florida (8-3, 5-1 GSC) drained a buzzer beater to force overtime and then outscored the Delta State University Lady Statesmen 12-8 in the extra session to earn a 73-69 Gulf South Conference win Saturday at Walter Sillers Colisuem.
Delta State sprinted to a 39-27 lead to start the second half after an
Anissa Jackson jumper with 15:39 to go only to see the Argonauts use a 12-2 run to trail 41-39 with a Jade Davis layup at the nine-minute mark.
Toya Collins gave DSU a 58-50 lead with 1:08 to go, but UWF outscored DSU 11-3 from that point, sending the game to overtime on a Brianna Williams layup with one second left in the second half.
In overtime,
Seneca Walton gave DSU a quick 64-61 lead before UWF tied the game on a 3-point play by Jasmine Wigfall with 3:46 remaining and later took a 70-67 advantage following two free throws by Katie Bobos at the 2:04 mark.
A pair of free throws by
Chelsey Rhodes cut the UWF lead to 70-69 with 52 seconds left before a Toni Brewer free throw with 42 seconds left and a Davis layup provided the final margin of victory for the Argonauts, 73-69.
A Williams jumper gave UWF an early 8-5 advantage only to see the Lady Statesmen rebound to take a 12-8 lead on a
Seneca Walton basket to cap a 7-0 run with 10:47 remaining.
UWF's Toni Brewer tied the game 23-23 with 2:23 showing on the first half clock, but a
Carly Keller 3-pointer gave DSU a 26-23 lead at the 2:04 mark to start a 7-2 run.
The first half saw seven ties and nine lead changes with the Lady Statesmen going on a 7-2 run, including Keller's three, to take a 32-25 halftime lead on a jumper at the buzzer by Rhodes.
Delta State went 11-of-29 from field (37 percent) and made 7-of-9 free throws and was 3-of-8 from 3-point range (37 percent) in the opening period. West Florida made 11-of-30 shots (36 percent) that included one 3-pointer while holding a 23-19 advantage on the boards.
The Lady Statesmen had four players score in double figures with Rhodes leading the way with 15 points and three steals. Jackson followed with 13 points and four rebounds while Walton added 11 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Keller scored 10 points and had four rebounds and four assists.
Brewer led three UWF players in double figures with 19 points while Williams had 18 points. Bobos recorded a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Delta State returns to Gulf South Conference action against North Alabama on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 1 p.m. in Florence, Alabama.
