Box Score
FLORENCE, Ala. – Chelsey Rhodes' 18 points guided No. 18 Delta State University to the 60-58 win over North Alabama in an intense contest that started out of the gate. The Lady Statesmen improve to 19-4 on the year and 14-3 in Gulf South Conference play, while North Alabama drops to 13-10 overall and 8-9 in league play.

Chelsey Rhodes put the Green-and-White on the board first with a long three just over a minute into the game. Made buckets were exchanged between the two squads when  UNA hit a three to notch the game at 5-5. Two more baskets were exchanged before North Alabama hit another three to lead 8-7 with less than 17 minutes left to play. Shanae Govan answered shortly after with a jumper to put the Lady Statesmen back up 9-8. North Alabama's Nichelle Fillmore found the bottom of the net to put the advantage back in favor of the Lion, 10-9, going into the first media timeout.

A good North Alabama three-pointer out of the media timeout extended the UNA lead to 13-9 with 15:31 remaining. Good layups from Seneca Walton, Rhandi Ball, Chelsey Rhodes, and two made free throws from Becca Ruckes sparked an 8-0 run by DSU. The Green-and-White led 17-15 at the second media timeout before the game was deadlocked at 17-17 after a basket from North Alabama at the 9:27 mark.

UNA went on a 14-5 run to take the 31-22 lead over Delta State with 4:39 to go in the first half. Baskets from Anissa Jackson and Seneca Walton on back-to-back possessions quickly cut the lead to seven, 31-24. Field goals in the last four minutes of the first half were few and far between as one basket from each team was made to set the score at 34-28 in favor of UNA to send the two squads into the locker room.

North Alabama outshot Delta State in every area except free throws in the first half of play. UNA shot 50 percent from the field and a whopping 58.3 percent from beyond the arc, but DSU took the advantage at the charity strip, shooting 62.5 percent to North Alabama's 20 percent.

DSU put up a quick 12-2 run to open the second half and tie the game at 36-36 courtesy of buckets from Becca Ruckes, Chadisty Hickman, and four made free throws from Chelsey Rhodes. Ruckes, Rhodes, and Govan built on the momentum to regain the lead, 42-36, with 15:26 to go in the contest. Delta State held the Lions to just two field goals at the under 16 media timeout. The Lions cut the lead back to one, but two straight steals by Shanae Govan and baskets by her teammates stretched the DSU lead back to five, 46-41, entering the second media timeout. The Green-and-White earned its largest lead of the game at the 8:12 mark when Becca Ruckes went 1-1 at the free throw line to lead by eight.

UNA's Jennifer Towne cut the lead back to five, but Chadisy Hickman drained a three way beyond the arc to take back the eight-point lead, 52-46, and less than seven minutes left to play.

With 2:35 left, North Alabama made the game close when Janae Lyde had the opportunity for the old-fashion three-point play but missed the free throw. Chadisty Hickman hit a crucial three on the very next possession, but the Lions answered with a three of their own. Shanae Govan set the lead back at four with a goal to give DSU the 59-55 lead with less than a minute to play.

To make things more interesting the Lions hit a three to cut the lead to 59-58. With the Lady Statesmen at the line with 7.1 seconds, Chelsey Rhodes made one of two free throws to lead by two, giving the ball back to North Alabama. A last second shot did not fall for the North Alabama, giving the 60-58 victory to Delta State to improve to 19-4 on the season and 14-3 in league play.

Chelsey Rhodes guided the Lady Statesmen to the close win over North Alabama with 18 points. Seneca Walton and Chadisty Hickman joined Rhodes in double figures with 11 points and 10 points respectively.
Delta State won the game with 26 points off of North Alabama's 20 turnovers. The Lady Statesmen shot 37.9 percent from the field, 60.0 percent from long range, and 61.9 percent from the free throw line on the night. The Green-and-White defense held the Lions to a 33.3 field goal percentage in the second half to shut down the UNA offense and take the win.

Up next for the Lady Statesmen will be a tough conference matchup against Union University in Jackson, Tenn., on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.