Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Opening round action of the Gulf South Conference Tournament featured the No.1 seed Delta State taking on the No. 8 seed West Alabama at the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University.

The Lady Statesmen (23-4) made it one step closer to their 16^th Gulf South Conference Tournament crown with a 73-43 win over the Tigers (5-22).

From the get-go, the Lady Statesmen unleashed a pressure-packed defense on the Tigers, holding them to four points in the first eleven and a half minutes of play. DSU executed on three straight trips down the court with baskets from Myiesha Stewart and Becca Ruckes to take the early 8-4 lead going into the under-sixteen media timeout.

A fastbreak bucket from Senior Shanae Govan sparked an 8-0 run out of the media timeout. Rhandi Ball connected with Seneca Walton under the goal, banking one in to extend the DSU lead to 12-4. Chadisty Hickman and Ruckes drained two goals before the second media timeout, expanding the lead to 16-4 at the 12:01 mark. Back-to-back goals from freshman Anissa Jackson and a pair of made free throws from Walton notched the score at 22-6 right before the third media timeout.

Chelsey Rhodes drained a long three at the 6:27 mark, but two West Alabama threes in as many possessions put the Tigers within 13 with 5:27 left to play in the first half.
UWA cut the lead to eight before Kenisha Henry found Walton who then banked in a basket to close out the first half. The Lady Statesmen earned the 33-23 advantage at halftime to head into the locker room.

DSU shot 15-of-27 from the field to shoot 55.6 percent in the first half of play, holding UWA to a 31 percent shooting percentage.

Jumpers from Chadisty Hickman and Rhandi Ball opened the second half for Delta State to lead 37-23 before West Alabama called a timeout hoping to stop DSU's momentum.

Momentum stayed with the Green-and-White as the Lady Statesmen took advantage of West Alabama turnovers. Six straight points off of turnovers gave DSU the 44-27 lead at the 16:29 mark.

Delta State mounted another 8-0 run in the two minutes prior to the first media timeout of the second half to go up 48-27.

A layup from Chadisty Hickman and a couple of made free throws from Walton at the 12:49 mark put the DSU lead at 23, 56-33. Out of the third media timeout, Rhodes and Govan contributed buckets on back-to-back possessions.

With 1:41 remaining in the game, Delta State led West Alabama 71-41. The two squads exchanged baskets to produce the final score 73-43.

Every Lady Statesman made it onto the hardwood, all but three contributed offense with all but four scoring four points or more. Delta State shot a whopping 64 percent for the second half to shoot 59.6 percent on the afternoon. The nationally top ranked DSU defense held UWA to 30.6 percent from the field for the game.

Career-high performances from Shanae Govan and Anissa Jackson hoisted the Green-and-White over the Tigers. For the second time in a week, freshman Anissa Jackson exceeded her career-high, leading DSU with 16 points over West Alabama. Crossett, Ark., native Shanae Govan dished out a career-high 10 assists in the win. Seneca Walton and Chadisty Hickman joined Jackson in double figures, Walton contributing 12 points and Hickman adding 10.

Head coach David Midlick ties Margaret Wade in the record book for most wins in the first two seasons for a head coach. Midlick ties Wade with 44 wins.

Delta State advances to the semifinals on Saturday, March 8 to face the winner of North Alabama and Christian Brothers. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m.