GAME NOTES: Delta State @ North Alabama (2.20.14) | Union (2.22.14)
CLEVELAND, Miss. - Head coach David Midlick and company will make their last conference road trip of the year this week as the 2013-2014 campaign is winding down. No. 18 Delta State (18-4, 13-3 GSC) will take on North Alabama (13-9, 8-8 GSC) on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Flowers Hall then travel to Jackson, Tenn., to take on the Lady Bulldogs (17-5, 12-4 GSC) of Union on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Fred DeLady Gymnasium.
TIPOFF
With a tough loss to Gulf South opponent Lee University, the Delta State University women's basketball team dropped two spots in the most recent WBCA poll. They now hold the No. 18 ranking.
The 49-34 loss to Lee was just the fourth loss all season for DSU and only the third in conference play.
Offense seemed to be the problem for both the Lady Statesmen and the Lady Flames as each squad was held to its lowest shooting percentages all year and only a combined three players reached double figures.
Delta State was able to bounce back to win a crucial matchup against Christian Brothers, 66-61, at Walter Sillers on Monday.
This week's road trip will be a grueling test for the Green-and-White as they travel to face North Alabama and Union, two squads that played DSU close games earlier in the season.
The Lady Bulldogs are 7-1 in their last eight contests since their first meeting with Delta State on Jan. 18, the only loss coming to Lee.
Clarksdale, Miss., native
Seneca Walton is the driving force behind the Delta State offense and defense. She is averaging a double-double with 15.0 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game. Walton also posted her 13
th double-double of the season against Lee.
Career-high performances were given by two Lady Statesmen in the last two games,
Shanae Govan and
Myiesha Stewart.
Senior
Shanae Govan is going out on top for her last year with DSU. She reached career-high seven rebounds against Lee, standing at 5-3. Govan is also leading the conference in assist/turnover ratio with 1.6 and ranks second in assists with 4.6.
Transfer
Myiesha Stewart has been getting quality playing time the last several games for Delta State and has produced on both sides of the ball. Stewart had a tremendous show against Christian Brothers, putting up a career-high eight points and adding seven boards, one assist, one steal and one block.
The Lady Statesmen still lead the GSC in several categories, including scoring defense (53.7 ppg), field goal percentage (44.1 %), field goal percentage defense (33.2 %), rebounding defense (33.4 rpg), and assists (14.9 apg).
PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES
In just their fourth loss of the season and third loss in the Gulf South Conference, the Lady Statesmen of Delta State lost an intense matchup this week against Lee University, 49-34. Ranked at the top of the GSC for the last couple weeks in field goal percentage, DSU was held to its lowest field goal percentage all season. Simultaneously, Lee was held to its second lowest shooting percentage of the year. Junior
Seneca Walton was one of the three combined players who put up double figures and the only Lady Statesman to reach double figures. Walton put up
11 points and 13 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season. The rest of the Green-and-White added no more than four points. Delta State stands at 18-4 overall and 13-3 in league play as they enter a grueling road trip this week at North Alabama and Union.
The University of North Alabama women's basketball team posted a 2-1 record on the week. The Lions lost starting guard Lauren Faris for the season in the second half of a home win over West Georgia. Against the UWG, the Lions got double-doubles from Corinne White and Nichelle Fillmore in an 80-59 home win. At Valdosta State, the Lions picked up a 76-68 road win. Three-point shooting provided the difference in the game as the Lions were 8-of-16 from long range. VSU connected on just 2-of-11 three-point attempts. Against West Florida, A late UNA rally came up short in a 73-61 loss. After trailing by as many as 23 points in the second half, UNA cut the lead to nine in the final minute of play but could get no closer. The loss leaves the Lions with a 13-9 overall record and 8-8 mark in GSC play. West Florida led from the opening tip and took a 42-28 lead to the half after shooting 58.6 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play. UNA struggled on offense early, committing nine first-half turnovers leading to 11 UWF points. In the second half, a basket gave the Argonauts a 54-31 lead with 13:04 remaining. The deficit proved too big for the Lions to overcome. Fillmore turned in a career-high 26 points and added 10 rebounds. UNA will host Delta State Thursday evening. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Flowers Hall.
The Union University women's basketball team posted a pair of conference victories, winning 77-70 at West Florida and 58-49 at Valdosta State. With the win at West Florida, Union was able to avenge a home loss earlier in the season to the Argos. Union was led by Astrid Hutemann with 18 points, LaTesa McLaughlin with 17 points, and Amy Philamlee with 16 points. Union then overcame a slow start at Valdosta State. Union led by as many as 16 points in the game. Philamlee was Union's lone player in double figures with 14 points.
EARLIER THIS SEASON
The Lady Statesmen took on the Lions of North Alabama and the Lady Bulldogs of Union earlier in January for conference action.
DSU defeated UNA 63-59 in a heated competition.
Seneca Walton led Delta State with 14 points and 9 rebounds, while
Becca Ruckes added 10 points and four rebounds. North Alabama's Lauren Faris led all scorers with 18 points, followed by Delisa Madry with 15 and Jennifer Towne with 11. DSU shot 31.8 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line to secure the win.
Two days later, Delta State faced Union in another intense conference matchup. DSU took the 57-51 win over the Red-and-Black. Walton carried her momentum into the game as she scored a season-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, one of her many double-doubles of the season.
Chelsey Rhodes joined Walton in double figures with 11 points. Union's Astrid Hutteman carried the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points. LaTesa McLaughlin added 13 points, while Amy Philamlee contributed 10. Delta State shot 46.9 percent from the field and held the offensively powerful Union to just a 30.2 field goal percentage.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This week's games are historically different as the meeting between DSU and UNA will mark the 51
st meeting, while the meeting with Delta State and Union will be just the fifth meeting all time between the two squads. The Lady Statesmen lead both series, leading the series with North Alabama 45-5 with a two-game win streak and leading Union 3-1 with a three game win streak. The only time the Green-and-White have lost to Union was on Jan. 8, 1985 when Union defeated Delta State at Walter Sillers Coliseum, 89-83. After almost three decades standing between two of the meetings, the rivalry between Union and Delta State has turned out to be a competitive one and will likely continue throughout the years both teams are in the Gulf South Conference.
The Lions of North Alabama and the Lady Statesmen of Delta State University have had a long contested rivalry since the two teams joined the Gulf South Conference. The two squads have met 49 times since the initial meeting in the 1980-1981 season. DSU holds the commanding 44-5 lead in the series. However, two of the losses came during the regular season last year. DSU and UNA met three times last season with UNA taking the series 2-1. Game one was played at Walter Sillers Coliseum on Jan. 15 and saw Delta State lose a tight 58-59 ballgame.
Chelsey Rhodes led with 14 points, while UNA's Sarah Bailey led the Lions with 11 points. Game two came on Feb. 9 at Flowers Hall in Florence and once again saw Delta State fall 42-52 to the Lions.
Seneca Walton led the Lady Statesmen with 13 points, while UNA's Nichelle Fillmore led the game with 15 points. The Lady Statesmen sought and found redemption a few weeks later at the NCAA South Region Tournament. The opening round featured DSU and UNA. Delta State came out on top with the 51-41 victory to end the season for North Alabama and continue down the road to an NCAA Elite Eight appearance. Walton guided the Green-and-White to the victory with a double-double, 15 points and 11 boards. UNA's Corinne White posted 14 points.
New to NCAA Division II basketball and Gulf South Conference competition, Union University has made a name for itself as it enters its last season of the provisional stage in the transition to NCAA DII. Union finished last season with the best record in the GSC but was ineligible for postseason play. Delta State and Union are both well known for producing talented basketball programs year after year.
The two programs have only met on the hardwood four times, two last season, one this season, and one in 1985. DSU leads the series 3-1 over the Lady Bulldogs.
Delta State swept Union last season. Game one was played at Fred DeLay Gymnasium in Jackson, Tenn., and saw DSU defeat UU 77-67.
Rhandi Ball finished with 18 points and 10 boards, while Union's Shelby Ashcraft posted 19 points and 8 rebounds. Game two, played at Walter Sillers, was a nail bitter but Delta State was victorious once again as they routed Union 49-46.
Seneca Walton led with 10 points and 8 boards, while Union's Amber Rechis dropped 26 points.
LADY STATESMEN MAKING STATEMENTS
Seneca Walton continues to be the driving force behind Delta State's success this season with her play on the offensive and defensive sides of the basketball. The 6-1 junior is averaging a double-double, 15.0 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game. She has posted 13 double-doubles this season.
Shanae Govan packs a mighty punch with her speed and quickness. Standing at just 5-3, Govan brought down a career-high seven rebounds against Christian Brothers. She is leading the GSC in assist/turnover ration (1.6).
Transfer
Myiesha Stewart has been getting quality playing time the last several games for Delta State and has produced on both sides of the ball. Stewart had a tremendous show against Christian Brothers, putting up a career-high eight points and adding seven boards, one assist, one steal and one block.
